The work of James Coats (1841-1912) is known to all those who are particularly interested in the libraries of Scotland; for those who are unfamiliar with this brief episode in library history, the article on Coats in this issue will serve as an introduction to the slightly eccentric philanthropist who provided books freely and indiscriminately to the isolated communities of rural Scotland.

            Relatively little is known about Coats himself; he was a secretive man who did not appear at ceremonies in connection with his benefactions He left behind no readily accessible personal papers, and rumor has it that his papers were destroyed on his orders after his death. What little information survives comes mainly from the published recollections of his cousin, G. H. Coats, and from early studies of the county library movement. From these sources emerges a portrait of a man both kind­hearted and opinionated, a man whose generosity was hampered only his lack of foresight.

            The books themselves—remnants of the original donations—are the most obvious primary source of information about Coats's operations. The 368 titles that have been traced and catalogued provide the main evidence for book selection policy. All Coats volumes carry a bookplate pasted on to the inside front board of the volume, usually listing recipient and date of donation, and it is possible to tell from the bookplate whether the item is an original, a subsequent, or a special donation. The plate featured on the cover, measuring 3 1/2 by 4 inches, was originally pasted into a book presented to the village of Kilfinan in Strathclyde region, western Scotland, in May 1904.

 --Adapted by Alix Thayer, editorial assistant,

from  material provided by John C. Crawford