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NOTE TO MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARIES.

These libraries, where strictly public, were not infrequently formed at the start from some social library which was given to the town as a nucleus for a free library. It is more customary than otherwise with such libraries not to require guarantor's agreement to make good any loss the library may experience from infractions of the rules by principals, those of small towns relying upon the librarian's personal knowledge of the applicants for cards to use the books. Minors, however, must be vouched for in Fall River, Eancaster, Leominster, Lynn, and some other places. Barnstable, Charlestown, Fitchburg, Groton, Hudson, Peabody, Winchendon, Winchester, and perhaps others, require vouchers by their rules in all cases. The library of the Pacific Mills, at Lawrence, has a hold upon the operative's wages. It is not usual to require any annual subscription in these libraries, when supported by the town, or largely so; but at Chicopee they demand fifty cents a year, and think it is a good rule.

In the purchase of books recommended, these libraries often, as far as they can, accede to any reasonable demand; but in many cases no greater weight is given to a recommendation because a book is absolutely wanted, fitness in the committee's eyes being the sole criterion. Newburyport reports that it buys "frequently in answer to such demands. The Boston Athenæum says it buys on an average three out of four that are recommended.

In the purchase of duplicates, few of these libraries have means to satisfy the demands in this way. Some of them occasionally purchase two or three copies, as at Fitchburg and New Bedford. Lynn goes sometimes to the extent of seven or eight. The Boston Mercantile Library once in a while goes as high as twelve copies of a very popular book. At the Boston Athenæum they do not ordinarily duplicate in more than ten cases in a year; and the usage at the Boston Library Society is the same.