COUNTY BOROUGH OF DERBY. 



Thirty-First Annual Report 



OF THE 



FREE LIBRARY & MUSEUM COMMITTEE. 



T 



HE Free Library and Maseum Committee have great pleasure in 

 laying their Thirty-First Annual Report before the Town Council. 



The past year, if it has been comparatively uneventful, has been one 

 of steady progress in the work of the Institution. The number of 

 borrowers and the issues of books have been gradually increasing since 

 this time last year, and the question of space lias been temporarily dealt 

 with by the hiring of premises in the Strand for the housing of the 

 earlier Patent Specifications. 



The work in the Museum has made good, if not ver}' visible, progress 

 during the year. The special Sub-CommittLe for re-arrangement con- 

 tinues its labours, and a large portion of the insect collection has been 

 completed and is now being mounted. Less progress has been made with 

 the birds than last year, but (be completion of the Library Catalogue will 

 allow more time to be devoted to this part of the work in the 

 near future, and it is hoped that another year will see this portion of the 

 Museum complete. The Committee have decided to employ an assistant 

 porter, whose engagement will enable the present attendant to devote 

 more time t« the detailed work of the Museum, and also secure more 

 thorough supervision over the whole Institution than it is possible to have 

 under present conditions. 



