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SCHEMES FOR the national library services of developing countries make the British library world seem positively victorian by comparison. Two factors, however, are likely to be agents of change in the next few years. At the apex of the pyramid, the proposals for the British Library will rationalise the British Museum, the National Central Library, the National Lending Library for Science and Technology and the British National Bibliography complex. At more local levels, the re‐organisation of local government in England will ensure more effective provision of public library services under unitary control.

In our public libraries, certain well‐defined reading trends have been evident in younger people. Children are enthusiastic readers and there is little difficulty in recruiting them if the public library is conveniently sited. Towards the end of school life, use of the public library declines, and it is said that a smaller percentage of teenagers are library readers, than of any other age group. Whether this is true or not, the subject of young people's reading is of topical interest, and it is not surprising that conference speakers have turned their attention to it. The following represents an amalgam of facts and opinions presented by three such speakers at recent conferences: Mr. S. Rowe, Honorary Secretary of the National Association of Youth Leaders and Organisers, addressed the Library Association on. “Libraries and Youth”; Mr. H. K. Gordon Bearman, County Librarian of West Sussex, gave a paper to the London and Home Counties Branch of the Library Association, incorporating the results of “An Enquiry into the Use of Books and Libraries by Young People”; and Mr. Norman Tomlinson, Borough Librarian of Gillingham, addressed the Northern Branch of the Library Association on “Book Selection and the Utilisation of Stock”.

WHEN ONE LEARNS of the pressures on our American colleagues it would be fair comment to say that British librarians, cosily tucked away in their ivory towers, don't know they've been born.

NORMAN TOMLINSON'S article on publicity for International Book Year (NLW October), touches on a theme that is becoming more and more urgent in librarianship. As he so rightly points out, many isolated attempts are made to publicise one or other of the multi‐faceted aspects of librarianship today, but how many fellow librarians, let alone the public, have heard of these events. (Have you heard of IBY?)

THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION'S worsening financial position is a matter of general concern, and any constructive suggestions will no doubt be helpful to the Honorary Treasurer and others who plan our finances. The present Library Association structure is workable in practice, but it is becoming increasingly expensive to maintain, and a little thought begins to show the possibilities of economy, without any loss of effectiveness. The most important associated factor at the present time is the possibility of drastic local government reorganisation in 1974, only one year after the earliest date when Library Association subscriptions can be increased. The effect of this reorganisation, as at present proposed, on Library Association structure, needs to be borne in mind.

I CONCLUDED the article on ‘Not a trade union’ in the July NLW, with the suggestion that there must be a complete change from ‘the ill‐considered LA policies and actions of the 1950s onwards, particularly to ensure the association's withdrawal from all activity which is the province of trade unions’. It was the extraordinarily ill‐advised LA activity directed incessantly against the local authorities, who are the employers of a very large proportion of librarians, which led to our getting what we deserved and deserving what we got in salary and which also contributed to the continual decline in our status. Unless there is sensible, practical leadership in these matters, aimed at establishing worthwhile career prospects for us all, then the rest of the LA's activity is of little account. Bread and butter must always come first.

This research aims to separate the effect of a promise from an apology, examine interactional justice as a theoretical mechanism explaining the relationship between these accounts and post‐violation trust, examine how message content compares to the gesture of sending a message, and test offense severity as a moderator.

This study employed the Trust Game.

Results indicated significant apology × promise and apology × promise × offense severity interactions on interactional justice, and interactional justice fully mediated the relationship between promises and post‐violation trust.

Although this study was completed using a laboratory game with anonymous partners, results suggest that interactional justice provides a means for relationships to quickly get back on track after a violation. Specifically, promises provide “forward‐looking” information (trustworthy intent) and interpersonal sensitivity (demonstration of courtesy and concern) that enable interactional justice to affect subsequent trust.

These findings attest to the efficacy of clear accounts to foster interactional justice; in particular, apologies lead to higher interactional justice for less serious offenses. Furthermore, accounts that are “forward‐looking” lead to higher post‐violation trust via interactional justice perceptions.

Recent empirical studies suggest that apologies are associated with higher post‐violation trust, but, unlike this article, have not explicated this process or its boundary conditions.

ST BENEDICT SAID: Idleness is an enemy to the soul … the brethren ought to occupy themselves in the labour of their hands and at others in holy reading … from the fourth hour until the sixth let them apply themselves to reading from morning until the end of the third hour … in these days of Lent let each one receive a book from the library and read it all through in order … On Sunday let all apply themselves in reading.

THE ORGANISATION OF a survey at Manchester Polytechnic, following closely upon prolonged correspondence in a semi‐professional journal, testifies to the fear of some colleagues that the public takes a poor view of its librarians. ‘The catalogue does not mention it and the librarians here are useless,’ said Livy in the Apollo Library in Rome. But need we imagine that many modern readers would echo his verdict?

DURING THE twelve days of Christmas, between the King's speech and Twelfth Night, after the chocolate smoking set had been consumed, though not in flames and smoke, and before the Christmas decorations had sagged to waist level, I used to read my annuals.