and as jurisdiction upon appeal from the proceedings of district meetings and trustees, as well in relation to the selection of a library as to all other matters connected with it, is given to him by law, it is proper that the principles which will govern decisions on such appeals should be known.

The object of the law for procuring district libraries is, to diffuse information, not only, or even chiefly, among children or minors, but among adults and those who have finished their common school education. The books, therefore, should be such as will be useful for circulation among the inhabitants generally. They should not be children's books, or of a juvenile character, or light and frivolous tales and romances; but works conveying solid information which will excite a thirst for knowledge, and also gratify it, as far as such a library can. Works imbued with party politics and those of a sectarian character, or of hostility to the christian religion, should on no account be admitted; and if any are accidentally received, they should be immediately removed. Still less can any district be permitted to purchase school books, such as spelling books, grammars or any others of the description used as text books in schools. Such an application of the public money would be an utter violation of the law. If any case of improper selection of books should come before the Superintendent, by appeal from any inhabitant, such selection would be set aside; and if it appeared from the reports, which according to these regulations must be made, that such books had been purchased, the town superintendents will be bound to withhold the next year's library money from such district. These penalties and provisions will be rigidly enforced; for upon a faithful administration of the law, the usefulness and the continuance of the system will depend. If the public munificence be abused, it will unquestionably cease.

The superintendent feels it to be his duty, although an unpleasant one, to caution districts against collections of frivolous works, some of which are already advertised as district libraries. The advice of persons familiar with the best works in our language should be taken in making purchases; and it is recommended that utility be consulted in the choice of books rather than novelty. Works already known, and whose worth has been approved by the judgment of the public, should be preferred to new productions, which have not attained a character. Economy, also, should be maintained in buying libraries, that the utmost benefit may be derived from the

library fund. Those publishers who print large editions and make calculations for forming complete libraries, can, and do afford their books much cheaper than others. With such opportunities for procuring the very best books at a cheap rate, it would be lamentable if more money should be paid for them than they can be procured for with a little effort, and it would be humiliating and discouraging, if books of worthless or improper character should be offered to those who hunger for knowledge.

II. The library is in charge of the librarian chosen at the annual meeting of the district; for he cannot be chosen at a special meeting. If none is elected, the clerk of the district becomes librarian. Where by the laws regulating schools in cities or particular places, no trustees are chosen by the inhabitants, the district clerk, if there be one, is librarian. If there be no district clerk, the trustees of the district may appoint the librarian.

Trustees of school districts, are by virtue of their office, trustees of the library, and have the general charge and superintendence of it. The librarian is subject to their directions in all matters relating to the preservation of the books and appurtenances of the library, and he may be removed by them for the causes and under the circumstances mentioned in 137th section, (No. 162.)

Whenever the trustees go out of office they are to deliver to their successors all the books in the district library, with the case and all other appurtenances, and such delivery should be had within ten days at least after their successors are chosen; and the librarian is at the same time to deliver to his successor all the minutes, catalogues, papers and property, appertaining to the library.

III. When any library is purchased and taken charge of by the librarian, he is to make out a full and complete catalogue of all the books contained therein. At the foot of each catalogue the librarian is to sign a receipt in the following form:

in the town of

I, A. B., do hereby acknowledge that the books specifie in the preceding catalogue have been delivered to me by the Trustees of School District No. to be safely kept by me as Librarian of the said District for the use of the inhabitants thereof, according to the regulations prescribed by the Superintendent of Common Schools, and to be accounted for by me according to the said regulations to the Trustees of the said District, and to be delivered to my successor in office. Dated, &c.

A correct copy of the catalogue and receipt is then to be made, to which the trustees are to add a certificate in the following form:

We, the subscribers, Trustees of School District No. in the town of do certify the preceding is a full and complete catalogue of books in the library of the said District now in possession of A. B. the Librarian thereof, and of his receipt thereon. Given under our hands this day of

18

The catalogue having the librarian's receipt, is to be delivered to the trustees, and a copy having the certificate of the trustees, is to be delivered to the librarian for his indemnity.

Whenever books are added to the library, a catalogue with a similar receipt by the librarian is to be delivered to the trustees, and a copy with a certificate of the trustees that it is a copy of the catalogue delivered them by the librarian, is to be furnished to him. Every catalogue received by the trustees is to be kept by them carefully among the papers of the district and to be delivered to their successors in office.

IV. During the week preceding the annual meeting all the books shall be called in. For this purpose the librarian is to refuse to deliver out any books for fourteen days preceding the time so prescribed for collecting them together. The trustees must make a careful examination of the books, compare them with the catalogue, and make written statements in a column opposite the name of each book of its actual condition, whether lost or present, and whether in good order or injured, and if injured, specifying in general terms, the extent of such injury. This catalogue with the remarks, is to be kept by them; a copy of it is to be made out, and delivered to the new librarian with the library, by whom a receipt in the form above prescribed is to be given, and to be delivered to the trustees. Another copy certified by them as before mentioned, is to be delivered to the librarian.

V. Trustees are to attend to the library for the purpose of comparing the catalogue with the books. They are, at all times, when they think proper, and especially on their coming into office, to examine the books carefully, and to note such as are missing or injured. For every book that is missing the librarian is accountable to the trustees for the full value thereof, and for the whole series of which it formed a part; such value to be determined by the trustees. He is accountable, also, for any injury which a book may appear to have sustain

ed, by being soiled, defaced, torn, or otherwise. And he can be relieved from such accountability only by the trustees, on its being satisfactorily shewn to them that some inhabitant of the district has been charged or is chargeable for the value of the book so missing, or for the amount of the injury so done to any work. It is the duty of the trustees to take prompt and efficient measures for the collection of the amount for which any librarian is accountable; such amount, when collected, is to be applied as directed in article XII, of regulations No. II, with respect to fines.

VI. It is the duty of the trustees to provide a plain and sufficient case for the library, with a good lock, if the district shall have neglected to do so. They are also to cause the books and case to be repaired as soon as may be, when injured; they are also to provide sufficient wrapping paper to cover their books, and the necessary writing paper to enable the librarian to keep minutes of the delivery and return of books. These are proper expenses for the preservation and repair of the books, and are to be defrayed by a tax on the district, which is to be added by any tax voted by a district meeting. It is not necessary that the tax to defray these expenses should be voted by the inhabitants of the district; it is to be assessed and collected in the same manner as a tax for building or repairing a school house, or to furnish it with necessary fuel and appendages,

VII The librarian must cause to be pasted in each book belonging to the library, a printed label, or must write in the first blank leaf of each book, specifying that the book belongs to the library of school district No. in the town of , naming the town and giving the number of the district; and he is on no account to deliver out any book which has not such printed or written declaration in it. He is also to cause all the books to be covered with strong wrapping paper, on the back of which is to be written the title of the book, and the number in large figures. As new books are added, the numbers are to be continued, and they are in no case to be altered; so that if a book be lost, its number and title must still be continued on the catalogue, with a note that it is missing.

VIII. The librarian must keep a blank book, that may be made by stitching together half a dozen or more sheets of writing paper. Let these be ruled across the width of the paper so as to leave five columns, of the proper size for the following entries, to be written lengthwise of the paper; in the first column, the date of the delivery of any

book to any inhabitant; in the second the title of the book delivered and its number; in the third, the name of the person to whom delivered; in the fourth, the date of its return; and in the fifth, remarks respecting its condition, in the following form:

The proper width of each column can be ascertained by writing the different entries on a half sheet of paper and seeing how much room they respectively occupy.

As it will be impossible for the librarian to keep any trace of the books without such minutes, his own interest to screen himself from responsibility, as well as his duty to the public will, it is to be hoped, induce him to be exact in making his entries at the time any book is delivered; and when it is returned, to be equally exact in noticing its condition, and making the proper minute.

IX. A fair copy of the catalogue should be kept by the librarian, to be exhibited to those who desire to select a book; and if there be room, it should be fastened on the door of the case.

X. The several trustees of school districts are hereby required, in their annual reports to the town superintendent of common schools, to state the number of books belonging to their district library on the last day of December in each year.

XI. The trustees of each school district shall, at the time of their making their annual reports, deliver to the town superintendents of their town, a catalogue containing the titles of all the books in the district library, with the number of volumes of each set or series, and the condition of such books, whether sound, or injured, or defaced. This catalogue must be signed by them and by the librarian.

XII. The town superintendent of common schools in each town is required carefully to preserve such catalogues, and deliver them, with the papers of their office, to his successor, who is also required to preserve the catalogues delivered to him, and hand them over to his

successor.