outside of the building will shortly be re-painted, and probably some 

 re-pointing of the brickwork and other small matters will have to be 

 attended to, on which the Borough Surveyor will shortly report. 

 The building is otherwise in a good state of repair. 



The Committee are very glad to know that the clause specially 

 dealing with this Institution was included in the Derby Corporation 

 Act, 1901, and they thank the Council for securing its insertion. 

 They do not anticipate that any change will have to be made for 

 some time to come, but when the question of establishing Branch 

 Libraries is seriously raised by the Ratepayers, they will not be 

 obliged to decline entertaining it for lack of means, but each 

 question can be dealt with on its merits. A small slip containing an 

 extract from Clause 171 of the Act, relating to the presence of books 

 in infected houses, has been inserted in each book, at the request of 

 the Sanitary Committee. 



The Members of the Committee have to mourn the loss of their 

 late respected colleague, Mr. Alderman Russell, J. P. He was one of 

 the most active members of the Corporation in securing the adoption 

 of the Library Act, and had been a member of this Committee from 

 its formation. His wise counsels did much in shaping its policy and 

 directing its work in its earlier days, and he regularly attended its 

 meetings as long as he was able, while his interest in the welfare of 

 the Free Library and Museum continued to the end of his life. 



The usual report compiled by the Librarian accompanies this, 

 and those interested are referred to it for more detailed information 

 respecting the inner working of the Institution. Finally, the 

 Committee desire to express their thanks to all the donors of books, 

 magazines, and Museum specimens during the past year, and again 

 to acknowledge the zeal and efficiency with which the work of the 

 Institution is carried on by Mr. Crowther and his staff. 



On behalf of the Committee, 



GEORGE BOTTOMLEY, 



Ohainnan. 

 Odiibcr 81st, 1901. 



