Librarian's Report 



TO THE COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR ENDING 

 SEPTEMBER 30th, 1912. 



Gentlemen, 



The Statistical Tables and accounts that follow are for the year 

 ending March 30th, 1912. My late Chief, Mr. Crowther, died 

 November 10th, 1911, and I was then placed by you in temporary 

 charge of the whole institution until the beginning of March last. 

 Hence the period dealt with here was largely one of transition in which 

 my duty was to keep the existing system in working order — a duty 

 complicated by serious illness in the senior, and changes in the 

 junior staff. 



The Abstract of Accounts for the Librar}^ and Museum shows an 

 apparent deficit of £271, but this is due to three quarters' revenue 

 only, instead of four, being credited to account. The full year's 

 revenue would give a balance of over £276 to credit. Tables are dull 

 but necessary indicators of an institution's activities, and they will 

 be found in their usual form. The nett result of importance is that 

 the Lending Library issues are still increasing, though owing to the 

 unparalleled brightness and heat of the summer of 1911, they fell 

 considerably during those months, thus masking the very pronounced 

 rise during the winter period, October to March. The popular Children's 

 Department also shows increased issues. In the Rcferenc^e Department 

 there is an apparent decrease, which I attribute to the extended use 

 made of the books to which unrestricted access is given. The demand 

 for Patent Specifications was also lower, and I much regret that this 

 costly library is used by so few. Its accommodation is a problem 



