BOOK III. Chapter XX. Town Libraries of Scotland The hall which it occupies has been called the noblest University and room in Scotland; the length of this apartment is 190 feet, and the other dimensions are proportionate. The decoration is admirable, and is, as it should always be, in due subordination to the main purpose. The Catalogues are in manuscript, save as respects the medical department, of which there is a printed list up to the close of the last century. As to the previous enforcement Present manage of the regulations for the speedy return of books borversity Library. rowed, the Commissioners reported almost as unfavourably of Edinburgh University as of Glasgow; but in this respect, as in others, an improved practice has long obtained. An annual return of all books borrowed from the Library is now called for, by printed circulars, at the end of August, and with good effect. ment of the Uni Auxiliary Theo logical Library. Finally, as to the use of the Library by Strangers, the following statement occurs in the official returns of 1849:"As the main object of the University Library is to serve as an auxiliary to academical study, and as the collection is not more than adequate to supply the demands made upon it by Professors, Students, and Members of the College of Surgeons, (all of whom are contributors to the funds), there cannot be any considerable provision for the accommodation of strangers. But literary gentlemen, or others, who have occasion to consult or to borrow books, on application to the Curators, or to individual Professors, willing to be responsible for them, are allowed every practicable facility." In addition to the Public Library of the University, there is a special theological collection which was founded by Dr. George Campbell, about the end of the THE COLLEGE LIBRARIES OF ABERDEEN. 35 BOOK III. Chapter XX. Town Libraries of Scotland. seventeenth century. The Rev. Richard Stratton bequeathed to it 700 volumes, and the Rev. Thomas Wil- University and kie, 400 volumes. Its subsequent growth has accrued from the contributions of the Theological students at Matriculation. The present number of volumes exceeds 5000.1 King's College, Chronologically, the "University and King's College Library of of Aberdeen" stands third amongst the Scottish Colleges. It was founded in 1494, eighty-three years after St. Andrews, and forty-four years after Glasgow. But no distinct mention of a Library appears on the records of King's College until 1634, and the traces that are thenceforward to be met with are but scanty. Thomas Hollis,-whose munificence extended to lands the most remote, without overlooking those that lay close at hand, is registered as the giver of an endowment which every year still continues to add good English books to the collection. Matriculation and graduation fees have afforded the chief means of maintenance, and of occasional increase, assisted by the produce of the Copyright privilege, and, since 1837, by the substituted compensative grant which has been already mentioned. This privilege was exercised by King's College only, but it was clearly intended, if not even expressly stipulated, that the Principal and Professors of Marischal College should have free access to the books thus ac 1 Maitland, History of Edinburgh, 355-374; Report etc. of the Commissioners, ut supra, 167-173; Dyer, Notice of the University Library in Aikin's Athenæum, v, 135; Dibdin, Northern Tour, ii, 585; Abstract of Supplemental Return on Public Libraries (1849), 2-4. BOOK III. Chapter XX. cruing. The joint usufruct appears, however, to have University and entailed many disputes and jealousies, and it was found necessary to appeal to the Supreme Civil Court of Scotland in order to its enforcement. Town Libraries of Scotland. Library of Marischal College. The Marischal College of Aberdeen-so named from its founder the Earl Marischal-dates from 1593, and was therefore of distinctly Protestant and Presbyterian complexion. Its Library belonged partly to the Town and partly to the College; the books of the dissolved monasteries having been collected by the Magistrates, placed by them at first in one of the Churches, (under the designation, sometimes of "Town's Library," sometimes of "Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica,") for public use; and subsequently united with the small collection which the College had already acquired by the bequests of Reid's bequest Mr. Thomas Reid (Latin secretary to King James VI.), and of Dr. Liddel, augmented by some minor benefactions. For further increase it was left to similar liberality, and to the collegiate funds; its deficiencies being to some extent supplemented by the partial accessibility of the King's College Library. In 1849, the number of printed volumes was about 12,000, and of manuscript volumes, 100. "The books," wrote Dr. Cruickshank, the then Librarian (at the same date), "are chiefly old; -Greek and Latin Classics, Fathers, . . &c. The number of modern works is extremely limited." (19 May 1624). State of King's College Library in 1849. Meanwhile, King's College Library had grown, (to some extent by purchases, but chiefly by the results of the Copyright Act,) to 32,384 volumes of Printed Books, and 74 volumes of Manuscripts. When the BOOK III. Chapter XX. Town Libraries of Scotland. amount of compensation money was fixed, on the basis of the actual receipts under the Act on an average University and of the three preceding years, it appeared that the privilege had been but loosely enforced, although much less so than formerly. The amount assigned was £320 a-year. The regulations as to accessibility were thus returned to the House of Commons, by the official authorities, in 1849: "The Library is accessible to all the Professors and Lecturers of this University and of Marischal College; as well as to all graduates and students of the former, on depositing the value of the books received. Persons who are neither Graduates nor Students of the University are allowed to take out books, if recommended by a Professor of the University or of Marischal College; .... the Library is closed annually for about a week, previous to which all books. must be returned under certain penalties. A strict examination is then made of the state of the Library which is not re-opened until its conclusion. Every facility is afforded, and suitable accommodation provided for persons wishing to consult books." The Select Committee on Libraries of 1849 took evidence as to the management of this and of the other Libraries of Aberdeen, from John Webster, Esq., Advocate, now (1857) Lord Provost of Aberdeen, and from others. "We should wish, said Mr. Webster, "to have made available to us a Public Library upon a proper footing, but we apprehend that, as long as the Public will give £320 to the King's College Library, we cannot come to the Legislature on behalf of Aberdeen, .. and ask an additional grant for our locality; and con ... Evidence given braries Commit before the Li tee of 1849. BOOK III. Chapter XX. University and Town Libraries ..... sequently, although we do not want to interfere with King's College Library, if we can do it otherwise, we of Scotland. apprehend that our wants ought to have some attention paid to them, in respect to that. .... The Public are not permitted to read at all within the University Library........... There is only the Library ïtself, where there is no convenience for readers." "For the information of those who are not acquainted with the local circumstances,.. I might mention that King's College is inconvenient in every respect; it is.. about a mile from the manufacturing, commercial. and shippiug town of Aberdeen, with which it is quite unconnected. ..... Then, the hours at present would also make it impossible for men of business and professional men to avail themselves of the Library, open only (to those having Professors' orders)... from eleven to one o'clock, a.M.” This and other like evidence excited somewhat of angry feeling on the part of the King's College authorities. Dr. George Ferguson, on their behalf, stated in a letter to the Chairman of the Committee that "notwithstanding this testimony is supported by a "letter from a Professor of Marischal College," it is nevertheless a fact that can easily be verified that there is a reading or consulting-room attached to the Library here, open every day during Library hours to any person who comes to the Library for that purpose." The explanation of the discrepancy seems to be that Mr. Webster spoke of a practice with which he had been personally familiar, but which had since been wisely amended. Whilst the inquiry was pending, the then Provost of Aberdeen, Mr. Thompson, also addressed to Mr. Ewart Reply of the King's College Professors. .... |