UNIV. OF MANCHESTER: A BRIEF RECORD OF By HENRY GUPPY, M.A. LIBRARIAN MANCHESTER: THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 12 LIME MCMXXI CALCUTTA, THE PREFATORY NOTE. 'HE following pages contain a brief review of the history and work of the John Rylands Library during the twenty-one years which have elapsed since its inauguration in 1899-1900. It was written to commemorate the library's coming of age, and was first published in the January issue of the "Bulletin ". It is reissued in the present form, with some additional matter in the shape of illustrations, to signalise the visit to the library of the members of the Library Association, on the occasion of the holding of their annual conference in this city. Twenty-two years have elapsed since the Association last met in Manchester. In the interval much has happened. In her determined efforts to place herself in the front rank of cities which are true cities, Manchester has been eminently successful. Aided by the benefactions of many of the citizens whom she has delighted to honour, and whose names have become household words, she has raised herself to the proud position of being as great a city of culture and art, as hitherto she has been of commerce. In September, 1899, the date of the last Manchester Conference, the College of Technology, in which this year's ordinary sessions are being held, was still in course of construction; the University of Manchester, which is to day the most vigorous and the most famous of the younger Universities, was at that time known as "The Owens College," and was one of the constituent colleges of the Victoria University; the institution to which these pages more particularly refer, which for ten years had been gradually rising from the ground, was on the eve of its official opening, and has since become one of the most attractive places of pilgrimage in the North of England to the student and book-lover. Some disappointment was naturally felt, at the time, by members of the Association, that during their visit to Manchester no oppor V G 478397 tunity could be afforded them for inspecting the new library. No one regretted the circumstances more keenly than did Mrs. Rylands and the writer, but it was obviously impossible to give access to the building during the time that preparations were in progress for the opening ceremony, which was to take place in the month following, namely on the 6th of October. Many members attending the Conference did return, however, a month later, as the guests of Mrs. Rylands, to assist at the formal inauguration ceremony, which was at once simple, dignified, and impressive, and one that was likely to live in the minds of all who were privileged to be present. It follows, nevertheless, that the Association as a body has not hitherto paid an official visit to the library, and it is with the greatest possible pleasure, therefore, that the Chairman of the Council and the Governors, with the Librarian, extend to them a most cordial welcome. With the object of conveying to our guests some idea of the character of the collections which have made this library famous in the world of letters, and which at the same time have helped to make Manchester a centre of attraction for scholars from all parts of the world, we have arranged in the main reading-room an exhibition of some of the library's most famous possessions, both manuscript and printed. We have also included in this brochure, a number of views of the building, and facsimiles of some of the outstanding manuscripts and printed books which are included in the exhibition, to which we have added a few descriptive paragraphs, in the hope that it may serve as a memento of the visit. HENRY GUPPY. THE JOHN RYLANDS LIBRARY, 13th September, 1921. |