The publication of the annexed correspondence has been determined upon
not for the pleasure of exposing the mistakes and inconsistencies of Sir
Nicholas Harris Nicolas, but for the purpose of drawing the attention of
those who take an interest in the collection of Printed Books in the
British Museum to a most important part of its management, _viz._ the
supply of books to readers. In order to make the correspondence
intelligible, it will be necessary to explain not only the circumstances
which gave rise to it, but also the system of arrangement adopted to
secure a regular attendance upon the readers from the Library, as well
as the reasons why this system has been suggested; and it is hoped that,
when the whole system is carefully examined, it will not be found
undeserving of that support, without which it is impossible that any
scheme can be carried out.
At the risk of entering into minute and very uninteresting particulars,
well known to those who are conversant with the arrangements of a large
Library, it is requisite to state that the books in that of the British
Museum are found by certain references, Press-marks, or symbols, by
which each work is identified with the corresponding entry of its Title
in the Catalogue. The Title of a work marked in the Catalogue with, for
instance, 500 _a_, means that the work itself is in the press which is
numbered 500, and on the shelf of that press which is distinguished by
letter _a_; if the mark be 500 _a_ 2, the meaning is that the work
occupies the second place on that shelf; and if marked 500 a/6 2, that
it is the sixth article in the 2nd vol. on shelf _a_ of press 500. A
book being wanted, the shortest way by far is generally found to be
(and in the greatest number of cases it is the only one) to search the
Catalogue, find the Press-mark, and look for the book accordingly. In
1836, at my suggestion, an alteration in the then prevailing system was
adopted, which the Committee of the House of Commons on the British
Museum, then sitting, considered an improvement, and so it was
universally pronounced to be. The question put to me on the subject by
Lord Stanley, as well as my answer, are here inserted.
"Will you state what improvement has been recently adopted in the
New Transcript [of the Catalogue] with regard to reference?"
"In the Catalogue of the British Museum, the one which we keep for
the use of the Library, there are certain references given, or
symbols, to know exactly where to find a book. In the Reading Room
Catalogue those symbols were not put; I thought, and Mr. Baber
thought also, that it would be an evident improvement to have in the
Catalogue for the Reading Room, the same references as in the
Catalogue of the Library, because the reader would have only to copy
the title of the book as well as the reference, and instead of his
ticket going to one of our men, who is obliged to look over the
Catalogue inside to put the reference, the attendant would go direct
with that ticket to the place where the book is, and carry it to the
Reading Room immediately. It would be an economy of time for the
readers, consequently an economy of time for our men, and
consequently a saving of expense in the number of men. But there are
other advantages attending this system. Often the readers come to
ask for a book which was never printed, or which, if printed, is not
in the Library or they write down the title as they have seen it
elsewhere, not correctly quoted, and give it to one of the
attendants. The attendant begins to look over all the Catalogues,
and cannot find the book; he is afraid of being in the wrong; he
loses a great deal of time, and the consequence is, that all the
readers who have written correct tickets are kept waiting, by the
fault of him who has written an incorrect one. By the new system, a
person will be obliged to look in the Catalogue in order to put down
the reference; he will therefore ascertain whether we have the book
or not, and not give us useless trouble, and to the injury of other
readers. Having given that reference, if it be wrong, it may be
wrong because it is incorrectly put, and then we must answer for it;
but if it be the fault of the reader, although I could find the
book, I would, on principle, return the ticket, because all the
other readers are inconvenienced by the carelessness of this one,
and the returning the ticket would be the best mode of ensuring
attention. By this means we shall save much time, and remove much of
the inconvenience now complained of by the readers."
It was found, however, that some readers, who neglected to comply with
these rules, hindered the ready supply of books to those who did comply
with them; and when, in 1837, I succeeded Mr. Baber as Keeper of the
Printed Books Department, I thought of suggesting printed tickets or
formulae, according to which books were to be asked for by merely filling
them up. The following is an exact specimen of these tickets:
-----------+-----------------------------------+-----+--------+------
Press Mark.| Title of the Work wanted. |Size.| Place. | Date.
-----------+-----------------------------------+-----+--------+------
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
-----------+-----------------------------------+-----+--------+------
(Date) ___________________________ (Signature).
Please to restore each volume of the Catalogue to its place, as soon
as done with.
On the reverse it is as follows: