Part 17 (1/2)

I hereby declare that I am a resident of the City of Springfield, and in consideration of the right to use the Free City Library, agree to comply with all Regulations provided for its government.

George Brown.

I hereby certify that the above subscriber is a fit person to enjoy the privileges of the City Library, and that I will be responsible for any loss or injury the Library may sustain from the permission given to draw books in consequence of this certificate.

Signature (in ink)

Residing at No. Street.]

Double and special borrowers' cards are not needed under this system. It accommodates itself readily to a ”two-book” system. On the book-cards belonging to the second book, and all other books after the first, which any borrower may take, the librarian writes the borrower's number preceded by any letter or sign which will serve to indicate that these books are charged, not on the borrower's card, but to the borrower direct, on the strength of a general permission to him to take more than one book.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 4. Overdue notice. (Postal card, reduced.)

The City Library a.s.sociation, Springfield, Ma.s.s. LITERATURE: ART: SCIENCE.

The Library: Circulating Department.

The rules of the library require all books to be returned in two weeks. Book No. G647.2 stands charged to you (Card No. 1906) as taken from the library Feb. 2. '99.

You are incurring a fine of two cents for every day's detention.

If you think a mistake has been made, please notify us.

A charge of two cents is made for sending this notice.

The City Library. Per B.

Present this notice with your library card.]

The postal notice no. 1, the registration cards 2 and 3, the notice that the book is overdue, no. 4, the fine slip, no. 5, all explain themselves.

In most places, certainly in all small towns, a sufficient safeguard against the loss of books is found in the signature of the borrower himself. No guarantee need be called for. To ask for a guarantor for a reputable resident is simply to discommode two people instead of one.

The application which the borrower signs should be brief and plain.

Name, residence, place of business, and any necessary references, should be written in by the librarian on one side; the signature to an agreement to obey the library rules can be written by the applicant on the other. All borrowers agreements should be filed in alphabetical order. They should receive borrowers' numbers in the order of their issue, and the date. The borrowers' cards should state that they expire in a definite number of years from the date of issue, and the date of issue should be stamped on them. An index of borrower's agreements should be kept by their numbers. This need contain only the borrower's number, his name, and, when necessary, his address. It is conveniently kept in a book. It is better to keep it on cards.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 5. Fine slip. (Reduced; actual size 12-1/2 x 7-1/2 cm.)

The City Library a.s.socation Springfield, Ma.s.s.

Fines received FEB 14

No. 34. 5-82 D.