has been in use for twenty years, and the Committee believe that the 

 heating will now be quite satisfactory. The ventilation in the 

 Librarian's Office has also been much improved. The Committee 

 intend to have the basement thoroughly cleaned and the interior of the 

 Library painted during the coming year, and then they hope there 

 will be little necessity for expenditure in this direction for some time 

 to come. 



For the first time in its history no statement of accounts appears 

 in this report. The necessity for purposes of local information has 

 passed away, as the accounts will now appear in detail with those 

 published annually for the whole Borough. No doubt it will be 

 desii'able to publish in future years such a summary as will be useful 

 to other towns for purposes of comparison, but this time only half a 

 year's accounts are available. 



It only remains for the Committee to tender their thanks to the 

 Donors of various gifts to the Library, Museum and Art Gallery 

 during the past year, and to once more place on record their apprecia- 

 tion of the excellent work done on behalf of the Institution in all its 

 branches by the Librarian and Curator, Mr. Crowther. 



On behalf of the Committee, 



EDWIN T. ANN, 

 October 29th, 1906. Chairman. 



At their meeting this day, the Committee had oflered to them the 

 option of purchase of two shops, two cottages, and other property 

 between the Art Gallery and Cheapside for the sum of £3,350, 

 the Corporation to rebuild a Stable at an estimated value of £100, and 

 they unanimously resolved to ask the Council to sanction the 

 purchase, both with a view to the ultimate extension of the Art 

 Gallery and the carrying out of a desirable street improvement. 



