Library

Annual reports on institutions such as libraries tend to be either factual or impersonal. This is regrettable, for books, as Milton observed, "contain a potency of life in them", and this "extraction of the living intellect that bred them" is, or should be, transferred to their all-too-human readers. As we record the activities of the past year, therefore, it would be as well to remind ourselves that a School Library is much more than a sum of its parts and that all its users are responsible in some measure for preserving the right atmosphere of quiet and fruitful study within its walls.

Two years ago when the Library assumed its present ground plan, the addition of two new shelf-and-desk units provided us with ample room for expansion—or so we thought. Nature and librarians, however, abhor a vacuum; and already the steady influx of books has necessitated the re-organisation of certain sections (notably Modem Languages and Fiction) to accommodate the newcomers. During the Summer Term the largest consignment ever of re-bound standard works will add colour to the shelves and fifty new "Penguin" titles on a wide range of subjects will be available. A new Archaeology section has been opened to meet the needs of the latest School Society and the Economics section has been expanded now that this subject is taken at "A" Level. Fortunately, firm weeding-out of old and obsolete books has given us a little more elbow room.

The most obvious changes and improvements in the arrangement of the Library since September have been effected in the Geography, Religion and Sociology sections by Wightman, Anderson and Spencer. The vital Geography texts are now more accessible and Theology has assumed a proper prominence over some of its less moral associates such as War. The Sociology section has been completely re-numbered and provides a useful blanket term for seven loose members of the family : Archeology, Civics, Customs, Economics, Education, Law and War. D. J. Wilson has adopted a more logical system of numbering the Classical section and has followed the lead of the English and History pioneers by "breaking down" composite works into their analysed parts in the subject-index on the usual pink cards. Finally, dividing blocks have at last appeared on the shelves to indicate subsections and a start has been made on the long task of replacing all worn and illegible cards in the index.

It will be clear from this brief record that we are all indebted once more to a faithful and hard-working band of library monitors, efficiently led by Wightman, for these improvements and for the smooth running of the Library during the year. Of all the voluntary services a senior boy may offer to the School, this is one of the most useful and most rewarding, at any rate for those who need no persuading that "books are not absolutely dead things".