CHARGING SYSTEMS AND INDICATORS.—The charging of books includes every
operation connected with the means taken to record issues and returns,
whether in lending or reference libraries. Although the word “charging”
refers mainly to the actual entry or booking of an issue to the account
of a borrower, it has been understood in recent years to mean the whole
process of counter work in circulating libraries. It is necessary to
make this explanation at the outset, as many young librarians understand
the meaning of the word differently. For example, one bright young man
on being asked what was the system of “charging” pursued in his library
responded: “Oh! just a penny for the ticket!” And another equally
intelligent assistant replied to the same question: “We don’t charge
anything unless you keep books more than the _proscribed_ time!” Before
proceeding to describe some of the existing systems it may be wise to
impress on assistants in libraries the advisability of trying to think
for themselves in this matter. There is nothing more discouraging than
to find young librarians slavishly following the methods bequeathed by
their predecessors, because in no sphere of public work is there a
larger field for substantial improvement, or less reason to suppose that
readers are as easily satisfied as they were thirty years ago. The truth
is that every library method is more or less imperfect in matters of
detail, and there are numerous directions in which little improvements
tending to greater homogeneity and accuracy can be effected. It is all
very well, and likewise easy, to sit at the feet of some bibliothecal
Gameliel, treasuring his dicta as incontrovertible, and at the same
time assuming that the public is utterly indifferent to efficiency and
simplicity of system. But it ought to be seriously considered that
everything changes, and that the public knowledge of all that relates
to their welfare increases every day; so that the believer in a _dolce
far niente_ policy must be prepared for much adverse criticism, and
possibly for improvements being effected in his despite, which is very
unpleasant. In libraries conducted for profit, everything likely to lead
to extension of business, or to the increased convenience of the public,
is at once adopted, and it is this sort of generous flexibility which
ought to be more largely imported into public library management. A
suitable reverence for the good work accomplished in the past should be
no obstacle to improvement and enlargement of ideas in the future.