visited by 150,000 readers. Doubtless as the town increases, other 

 branches will have to be estabUshed, and the Committee are very 

 glad indeed that the Council at its last meeting sanctioned the in- 

 sertion of a clause ia the Bill to be shortly introduced into Parlia- 

 ment, which provides for the levying of such portion of an additional 

 penny rate as may be from time to time required. The Committee 

 will be as economical in the future as they have been in the past, 

 and are not likely to make use of the additional powers till circum- 

 stances force on them the necessity of providing additional branches. 



The re-arrangement of the Museum progresses steadily. A few 

 donations of value have been received, and the Committee have done 

 a good deal in the distribution of duplicate specimens of minerals and 

 tossils, of which a large number have gone to the Municipal Technical 

 College, and also to the Training College and several smaller insti- 

 tutions. 



The only serious expense incurred during the year has been the 

 provision of a new Indicator, which could not longer be deferred. It 

 provides for thirty thousand books, quite as large a number as we 

 shall have shelf accommodation for in the presen- premises. Oppor- 

 tunity was taken at the same time to commence afresh with the 

 borrowers' register, a work which had long needed doing. The property 

 generally is in a good state of repair, but portions of the interior will 

 want re-painting during the coming year, and we await a report 

 from the Borough Surveyor as to certain repairs to the outer fabric 

 which are becoming urgent. 



The thanks of the Committee are due to all the donors of books, 

 magazines, newspapers, and museum specimens during the past 

 year, and they desire once more to acknowledge the efficient work 

 done by Mr. Crowther and his staff, who labour diligently and with 

 udo-ment for the good of the Institution. The usual statistical tables 

 compiled by the Librarian are appended to this report, and to them 

 we refer all those interested in the inner working of the Institution. 



On behalf of the Committee, 



GEOKGE BOTTOMLEY, 

 October 25th, 1900. Chairman. 



