SUBSIDIARY LIBRARIES.

According to the University Catalogue there are 32 special reference libraries scattered about the University buildings. We venture to state that very few undergraduates could name ten of these. They are mostly devoted to special fields and are under the direction of different departments. It is recognized that these libraries are largely of a temporary nature and are rendered necessary by the lack of adequate facilities in the central library building.

This system of scattered collections necessarily has many disadvantages, but they are increased by lack of proper advertising, and because there is no uniformity in membership requirement for the libraries or in the hours during which they remain open. The deplorable congestion at Gore Hall might be largely relieved if the full resources of the subsidiary libraries were available and made a matter of general knowledge to the undergraduates. At present there are various requirements for membership in these libraries. For example, in some cases, special applications signed by department officers are necessary; and the hours at which the subsidiary libraries remain open are as varied as the more or less limited space of a week affords.

By a more centralized administration involving more advertisement and as much uniformity as is practicable in the matter of hours and membership requirements, the usefulness of these subsidiary libraries would be greatly increased, and the already overtaxed resources of Gore Hall proportionately relieved.