Catalogue of the Books in the Manchester Public Free Library, Reference Department. Prepared by A. Crestadoro. (Vol. II. Comprising the Additions from 1864 to 1879.) [With the "Index of Names and Subjects".]

This volume serves as the second installment of the comprehensive reference catalogue for the Manchester Public Free Library, covering the period between 1864 and 1879. It was compiled under the direction of Andrea Crestadoro, an Italian-born librarian and inventor who revolutionized the library's indexing system. His appointment to the Manchester library marked a significant shift in how public collections were organized, moving toward a more structured, searchable bibliographic format that set a standard for municipal institutions of the Victorian era.

The design of the catalogue reflects the mid-19th-century commitment to public education and systematic record-keeping. Crestadoro’s system was notable for its meticulous detail and clarity, designed specifically to aid readers navigating an ever-expanding collection of literature and technical works. The inclusion of an index of names and subjects was intended to democratize access to information, ensuring that even non-academic users could effectively utilize the library’s resources, an approach that earned the Manchester collection a reputation for accessibility and efficiency among contemporary bibliographers.