PREFACE.

The Public Lending Library was first opened to the public on the 8th of August, 1892. The catalogue then published contained entries for 6,000 volumes. A second edition of the catalogue was issued in 1894. Many alterations have been made since this edition was printed, and the method of obtaining books by the use of an "Indicator" has given way to the " open access" system, which was introduced in 1898, when the books were in the main classified according to the Dewey Decimal system.

The Public Lending Library now contains over 17,000 volumes, and these have been catalogued briefly upon what is known as the Dictionary plan, that is to say, the authors, titles, and subjects are arranged in one alphabet, like the words. in a dictionary.

This catalogue does not lay any claim to bibliographical completeness. The entries have, however, been made sufficiently full to identify the books, and to give a tolerably clear idea of their purpose and scope. The date and place of publication, the size of volumes, and the editions (except in a few cases) have been omitted, in view of the necessity for economy.

All books, except dramas and novels, are entered under the name of the author and the subject. Entries are also made under the title or some characteristic or significant catch-word when the subject is not plainly shown in the title, and in other cases where such entries are deemed helpful.

In the case of anonymous and pseudonymous books the main entry is made under the real name of the author when known, with a reference from the first word of the title or from the pseudonym to the real name.

Dramas and novels are entered under the name of the author, with a reference from the title or some leading word in the title to the name of the author,

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