THE _Reformed Librarie-Keeper_:

OR

Two copies of Letters concerning the Place and Office of a
Librarie-Keeper.


_The first Letter._

The Librarie-Keeper's place and Office, in most Countries (as most other
places and Offices both in Churches and Universities) are lookt upon, as
Places of profit and gain, and so accordingly sought after and valued in
that regard; and not in regard of the service, which is to bee don by
them unto the Common-wealth of Israël, for the advancement of Pietie and
Learning; for the most part, men look after the maintenance, and
livelihood setled upon their Places, more then upon the end and
usefulness of their emploiments; they seek themselvs and not the Publick
therein, and so they subordinate all the advantages of their places, to
purchase mainly two things thereby _viz._ an easie subsistence; and som
credit in comparison of others; nor is the last much regarded, if the
first may bee had; except it bee in cases of strife and debate, wherein
men are over-heated: for then indeed som will stand upon the point of
Honor, to the hazard of their temporal profits: but to speak in
particular of Librarie-Keepers, in most Universities that I know; nay
indeed in all, their places are but Mercenarie, and their emploiment of
little or no use further, then to look to the Books committed to their
custodie, that they may not bee lost; or embezeled by those that use