[Illustration: FIG. 9.[7]—ELLIOT’S INDICATOR.]
The first indicator of any practical use was that invented by Mr.
John Elliot, of Wolverhampton, in 1870. Previous to that date various
make-shift contrivances had been used to aid the staff in finding what
books were in or out without the trouble of actually going to the
shelves, chief among which was a board drilled with numbered holes
to receive pegs when the books represented by the numbers were out.
Elliot’s indicator is a large framework of wood, divided, as shown in the
engraving, into ten divisions by wooden uprights, on which are fastened
printed columns of numbers 1 to 100, 101 to 200, &c., representing
volumes in the library. Between each number, in the spaces between the
uprights, are fastened small tin slides, forming a complete series of
tiny shelves for the reception of borrowers’ tickets, which are placed
against the numbers of the books taken out. The numbers are placed on
both sides of the indicator, which is put on the counter, with one side
glazed to face the borrowers. Its working is simple: Every borrower
receives on joining a ticket in the shape of a book, having spaces ruled
to show the numbers of books and dates of issue, with the ends coloured
red and green. On looking at the indicator the borrower sees so many
vacant spaces opposite numbers, and so many occupied by cards, and if the
number he wishes is shown blank he knows it is in and may be applied for.
He accordingly does so, and the assistant procures the book, writes in
the borrower’s card the number and date of issue, and on the issue-label
of the book the reader’s ticket-number and date. When the book is
returned the assistant simply removes the borrower’s card from the space
and returns it, and the transaction is complete. A day-sheet is commonly
used for noting the number of issues; but, of course, application forms
can also be used. The coloured ends of the borrowers’ tickets are used to
show overdue books, red being turned outwards one fortnight, or whatever
the time allowed may be, and green the next. Towards the end of the
second period the indicator is searched for the first colour, and the
“overdues” noted. The main defect of the Elliot indicator lies in the
danger which exists of readers’ tickets being placed in the wrong spaces,
when they are practically lost.
The “Cotgreave” indicator, invented by Mr. Alfred Cotgreave, now
librarian of West Ham, London, differs from the Elliot in principle and
appearance, and is more economical in the space required. It consists of
an iron frame, divided into columns of 100 by means of wooden uprights
and tin slides; but has numbered blank books in every space, instead of
an alternation of numbered uprights and spaces. Into each space is fitted
a movable metal case, cloth-covered, containing a miniature ledger ruled
to carry a record of borrowers’ numbers and dates of issue. These cases
are turned up at each end, thus [Illustration], and the book-number
appears at one end on a red ground and at the other on a blue ground.
[Illustration: FIG. 10.[8]—COTGREAVE’S INDICATOR]
The blue end is shown to the public to indicate books _in_, and the
red end to indicate books _out_. The ordinary method of working it is
as follows: The borrower, having found the number of the book wanted
indicated _in_ (blue), asks for it by number at the counter, and hands
over his ticket. The assistant, having procured the book, next withdraws
the indicator-book and enters in the first blank space the reader’s
ticket-number and the date, reverses the little ledger to show the
number _out_, and leaves in it the borrower’s card; stamps or writes
the date on the issue-label of the book, and gives it to the reader. On
return the indicator number is simply turned round, and the borrower
receives back his card. “Overdues” can be shown by means of coloured
clips, or by having the borrowers’ cards shaped or coloured, and issues
are recorded on day-sheets, or by means of application forms. There
are, however, endless ways of working both the Elliot and Cotgreave
indicators, though there is only space to describe the most elementary
forms. Like every other department of library work, the working of an
indicator-charging system will bear careful thought, and leave room
for original developments. The “Duplex” indicator, invented by Mr. A.
W. Robertson, librarian of Aberdeen, has several novel features which
call for attention. A full-sized Duplex indicator occupies 5 ft. 4 in.
of counter space for every 2000 numbers, while a smaller pattern for a
similar number occupies 3 ft. 8 in. of counter space, both being 4 ft.
high, and is a frame fitted with slides in the manner of the Cotgreave
and Elliot indicators. It is also a catalogue, and the numbers and
titles of books are given on the blocks which fit into numbered spaces.
Each block has a removable and reversible sheet for carrying a record
consisting of borrower’s number, number in ticket-register, and date of
issue. The borrowers’ cards are made of wood, and also bear a removable
slip for noting the numbers of books read. When a book is asked for the
assistant proceeds first to the indicator and removes the block, which
bears on its surface the location marks and accession number of the
book, and on one end the number and title of the book; the other being
coloured red to indicate _out_, but also bearing the number. He then
carries the reader’s number on to the block, and having got and issued
the book, leaves the block and card on a tray. This is all that is done
at the moment of issue, and it is simple enough, all the registration
being postponed till another time. The assistant who does this takes a
tray of blocks and cards and sits down in front of the ticket-register,
which is a frame divided into compartments, consecutively numbered up
to five hundred or more, and bearing the date of issue. He then selects
a card and block, carries the book-number on to the borrower’s card,
and the number of the first vacant ticket-register compartment, with
the date, on to the book block, and leaves the borrower’s card in the
register. Probably the statistical returns will also be made up at this
time. The blocks are then placed reversed in the indicator, and so are
shown out to the public. When a book is returned, the assistant proceeds
to the indicator to turn the block, and while doing so notes the date and
register number, and then removes and returns the borrower’s card. By
this process the ticket-register is gradually weeded, till on the expiry
of the period during which books can be kept without fine, all tickets
remaining are removed to the overdue register, which bears the same
date, and are placed in its compartments according to the order of the
ticket-register. A slip bearing those numbers is pinned down the side of
the overdue register so that defaulters can easily be found.
These are the principal points in the three best indicators yet
invented, and it only remains to note their differences. The Elliot
indicator system makes the charge to the borrower, and preserves no
permanent record of book issues apart from the label in the book itself.
The Cotgreave system charges the borrower to the book, and _does_ keep
a permanent record of the issues. The “Duplex” system shows who has
had a certain book, what books a certain reader has had, in addition
to a record on the book itself similar to that kept with the Elliot
and Cotgreave systems, but only in a temporary manner. So far as
permanency of record is concerned the Cotgreave is the only indicator
which keeps this in itself. The reading done by borrowers is not shown
in a satisfactory manner by any of the three systems, as worked in
their elementary stages, and the Elliot and Duplex records are only
available when the readers’ tickets are in the library _and their places
known_. Much difference of opinion exists among librarians as regards
the necessity for a double entry charging system, many experienced
men holding that a simple record of the issues of a book is all that
is required. Others are equally positive that a separate record of a
borrower’s reading is only a logical outcome of the spirit of public
library work, which aims at preserving, as well as compiling, full
information touching public use and requirements. In this view the
writer agrees, and strongly recommends every young librarian to avoid
the slipshod, and go in heart and soul for thoroughness. A simple double
record of borrowers’ reading and books read, which will give as little
trouble to the public as possible, is much required, and will repay the
attention bestowed on it by the young librarian. Where application slips
are used, which give book- and borrower-numbers, it is a simple matter
compiling a daily record of the reading done by each borrower. At several
libraries where Cotgreave’s indicator is used, it is done by the process
of pencilling the number of the book taken out on to a card bearing the
reader’s number. These cards form a numerical register of borrowers, and
are posted up from the application forms.
Before leaving the subject of charging systems let it again be strongly
urged that no system of charging should be adopted without a careful
thinking-out of the whole question; giving due consideration of the
matters before raised, at counters (p. 10) and above, touching space and
public convenience in the use of indicators. Though it is claimed for
the indicator that it reduces friction between assistant and public,
facilitates service, and secures impartiality, it should be remembered
that it is expensive; occupies much space; abolishes most of the helpful
relations between readers and staff; quickens service only to the staff;
and after all is not infallible in its working, especially when used
without any kind of cross-check such as is afforded by application forms
and separate records of issues to borrowers.
Reference library charging is usually accomplished by placing the
reader’s application in the place vacated by the book asked for, and
removing and signing it on return. In some libraries these slips are kept
for statistical purposes; in others they are returned to the reader as a
sort of receipt; and in others, again, the form has a detachable portion
which is used for the same purpose. In some libraries two different
colours of slips are used to facilitate the examination of the shelves on
the morning after the issues.