"_Secondly_, That if any Book be lent out, and lost or damaged, the
Borrower shall be obliged to make good such Loss or Damage.
"_Thirdly_, The Subscribers have Leave to meet the first _Tuesday_ in
every Month, to inspect the said Library, and take out such Books as
they may have Occasion for, then or at any other Time; and see that
the said Orders and Articles be duly observed.
"_Per Curiam_,
"LODGE." [i.e., Nehemiah Lodge, Town Clerk].
The Minute Book which finishes on April 3rd, 1733, is silent regarding
these new regulations, but Benjamin Mackerell (Librarian of the City
Library from 1724 to 1731) writing in 1737 shewed that they did not
result in improving the management of the Library:
"For some few years it has been a Lending Library and some persons
have had books two or three years together contrary to an order to
the contrary. Here is no salary given by the city for anyone to take
care and the charge of the books upon him only the keys thereof are
left at the house of the Clark of St. Andrews Parish, and any man may
be admitted that will but give him twelve-pence a quarter, but unless
the Corporation would be at the expence of a salary for any sober
discreet person to take the charge of the said books upon himself and
have the sole custody of them, and pecuniary mulcts inflicted upon
such as break the orders already made, there is little hopes of
keeping the books there, or in any good order long together, besides
this is also made use of upon the account of the trustees for the
Charity Schools who frequently meet here, notwithstanding there are
so many more convenient rooms in the said hall.
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