HC Deb 11 November 1936 vol 317 cc889-90W
Sir E. GRAHAM-LITTLE

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is now possible to adopt a recommendation contained in the Report of the Public Libraries Committee, 1927 (paragraph 503), that the British Museum should print and publish to readers catalogue-cards on the model used by the Library of Congress, Washington, the provision of which the committee declared would be of incalculable value to research conducted in the British Museum, and the cost of which, it was estimated, would not exceed £1,000?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

The production and supply by the British Museum of catalogue-cards of new publications to other libraries subscribing for the service has not been found practicable, but the Museum's monthly printed lists of new entries are issued to subscribers at a moderate price, recently reduced, and I understand that these can be utilised by mounting on cards, if desired. The additional service suggested would not be of value to research workers in the Museum. I would add that the tentative estimate of cost in the Report of the Public Libraries Committee referred only to initial expenditure and assumed that spare accommodation was available for the service without cost.