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A meeting of the Northern Branch of Aslib, held at Warrington on 12 February, at which Mr. R. Brightman, chairman of the Branch, presided, was addressed by Mr. E. J. Aslin, of Photostat, Ltd., on ‘Photostat Recording in Library Work’. Mr. Aslin said that it was not until the early part of the twentieth century that commercial and industrial interests first began to realize the value of using photographic methods for facsimile reproductions of important documentary matter. Although at that time there were very fine cameras in use, they were, nevertheless, unsuitable for this type of rapid document copying, owing to the somewhat peculiar conditions and arrangements found to be necessary for this work. There was quite obviously a demand for a specially designed camera to handle document copying on a big scale.

It has often been said that a great part of the strength of Aslib lies in the fact that it brings together those whose experience has been gained in many widely differing fields but who have a common interest in the means by which information may be collected and disseminated to the greatest advantage. Lists of its members have, therefore, a more than ordinary value since they present, in miniature, a cross‐section of institutions and individuals who share this special interest.

Amalgamation with the British Society for International Bibliography, agreed in principle in 1947, was accomplished de facto as from 1 January, 1948. The legal side, however, has taken longer than was anticipated, though the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the new body have been accepted by the Board of Trade and it is hoped that the formalities will be completed during 1948. Until these have taken place the finances of the two organisations have had to be kept separate, although their activities have been controlled as one organization under a joint Council. It is expected that the first Annual General Meeting of the new Aslib will be held about April, 1949, when the whole present Council will resign and a new Council will be elected.

The Annual Report of the National Central Library for the year ending 29 February, 1948, records substantial increase in its normal services as well as important expansion of its range of activities. The stock of the Library, reduced by enemy action in 1941 from 176,961 to 72,612, has now risen to 111,439—an increase in 1947–48 of 5,465 books, of which 4,430 were obtained by purchase. The total issues of books, numbering 84,889, show an increase of 28·6 per cent. over those of the previous year, and of 44 per cent. over the last pre‐war year. They include 8,655 books and periodicals supplied to university libraries, 6,581 to special ‘outlier’ libraries, 7,823 to Government departments and research and industrial organizations, and 12,652 to adult education classes. In addition, the Scottish and Irish Central Libraries issued 15,547 and 13,082 books respectively to all types of libraries.

Outlines some of the parameters one should consider when thinking about using minicomputers in circulation systems, lists some examples where they have been used or are to be used, and finally describes the University of East Anglia system in a little more detail.

A GOOD deal of fuss has been occasioned by the barring of several novels by the Libraries Association recently. Into the pros and cons of the matter—which have been over‐canvassed already—we do not propose to enter in detail: these circulating libraries and their customers can be left to reconcile their own differences of opinion. It is, however, unfortunate that a few commercial circulating libraries, when combining to form an association, should have chosen a title that was bound to be confused with that of the Library Association.

During 1970 the University of East Anglia started on the installation of a computerised circulation system based on that developed at the University of Southampton library, and the main part of the system was put into operation in January 1971. The library houses at present some 170, 000 volumes and it is planned that the whole of the bookstock should be capable of machine issue by the end of 1972.

We issue a double Souvenir number of The Library World in connection with the Library Association Conference at Birmingham, in which we have pleasure in including a special article, “Libraries in Birmingham,” by Mr. Walter Powell, Chief Librarian of Birmingham Public Libraries. He has endeavoured to combine in it the subject of Special Library collections, and libraries other than the Municipal Libraries in the City. Another article entitled “Some Memories of Birmingham” is by Mr. Richard W. Mould, Chief Librarian and Curator of Southwark Public Libraries and Cuming Museum. We understand that a very full programme has been arranged for the Conference, and we have already published such details as are now available in our July number.

This exhibition was primarily intended to show something of the variety of bibliographies and abstracting journals in the English language. It was not intended to be comprehensive; and although an effort was made to include the most authorative works in each field, in some cases the works shown could claim to be little more than representative.

TO many of us it is a matter for regret that we are not able to keep ourselves so closely in touch with library affairs in other parts of the world as we would wish. With American happenings we are, of course, fairly well acquainted, but Colonial effort has not received the attention which is its due. In many places in the Empire methods are, in certain ways, in advance of ours—in more than one country the legislation has been more enlightened than it was in England until quite recently—and everywhere the experience of keen progressive librarians facing their own particular problems must prove of interest and value to those in the home country. Therefore we believe that by devoting this issue to a discussion of some phases of Colonial librarianship we are but answering the large demand for such information.