The Friendliest Library in the World Available to Purchase

Yes; “the friendliest library in the world” is Joseph Hone's description of the National Library of Ireland, and according to Stephen Gwynn it was under “one of the most enthusiastic librarians the world has known”. They wrote of a time when Thomas W. Lyster, Dr. R. I. Best and William Kirkpatrick Magee were that Library's eager hosts. Happily Dr. Best and Mr. Magee are with us. It is my misfortune not to have met them. But Lyster I knew well; he was my friend, as far as friendship is possible to men who meet only at Conferences, and when all the approaches must come from the “don”.