Tlie Newsrooms both at the Central Institution and the Arboretum 

 Branch continue to be largely used, and the Committee think that 

 the list of N ewspapers and Periodicals supplied meets the requirements 

 of most of the visitors. There is no serious cause for complaint in 

 the way the rooms are used. Cases of mutilation and petty pilfering 

 still occur, but the Committee believe they have been less frequent 

 during the year just closed. In the Reference Room, certain books of 

 common reference are placed, beside Directories and Time Tables, 

 and the Committee have in view the extension of the list of such books 

 as far as accommodation exists or can be made. 



The Sub-Committee in charge of the re-arrangement of the 

 Museum has continued its labours during the year, and the work is 

 now nearly completed. Students use the Museum in increasing 

 numbers, and the Committee note with satisfaction the frequent visits 

 of children fi'om the Public Elementary Schools. 



In the Art Gallery the customary Spring and Autumn Exhibi- 

 tions of modern pictures have been held, and in February the mem- 

 bers of the Derby Photographic Society had a very satisfactory display 

 of their work. This was supplemented by an open class, to which some 

 of the best Photographic Artists of the Kingdom contributed. During 

 ten weeks in the summer, the Exhibition was confined to the Per- 

 manent collection only. The total number of visitors during the year 

 was 88,730. Here again in the Art Gallery, the want of space cripples 

 the efforts of the Committee. Our own valuable permanent collection 

 is far too crowded for effective display, and the number of pictures in 

 the most attractive of our Exhibitions has to be curtailed for lack of 

 space. Judging by the experience of other towns, many more pictures 

 and objects of art would be presented to the (Jallery, were there room 

 in which to display them. The Committee earnestly hope that the 

 Council will embrace any opportunity which occurs of helping them in 

 this particular, both in the Art Gallery and the Librarj'. 



All the buildings are now in a good state of repaii-. During the 

 year the Newsrooms and Museum have been repainted in lighter 

 colours, to their manifest improvement, and the Arboretum Newsroom 

 has been similai-ly dealt with. A better light has been secured in the 

 Reading Rooms by the removal of the coloured glass at the top of the 

 windows and the addition of reflectors, while the airangement of the 

 electric lights in the same rooms has been much improved. A new 

 boiler has been fixed for the heating appai'atus, replacing one which 



