James Rufus Boosé joined the staff of the RCI as a clerk in 1873 at the age of fourteen and was largely responsible for the publication, in 1886, of a catalogue of the 4,700 volumes and 1,600 pamphlets contained within the library. By the time of his appointment to the position of Librarian in 1889, Boosé had, in practice, been managing the library's affairs for several years. He became Secretary of the Institute in 1909 serving this position until 1915. In 1912 the Council had allowed Boosé to tour Canadian cities to enlist new members and organize branches and, after his retirement from the post of Secretary, he then became the Institute's travelling commissioner. This was a newly created office with a brief to recruit new members and extend the activities of the institute outside London and, through it, he was instrumental in accelerating an increase in overseas membership. He was the author of numerous works relating to colonial matters and libraries. By the time of his death in New Zealand in 1936 Boosé had visited almost every part of the Empire on the institute's behalf.