To the Chatrman and Members of the Derby Free 
Library and Museum Committee. 
GENTLEMEN, 
It gives me very much pleasure to lay before you my Eighth 
Annual Report. The number of books in the Lending Library now 
reaches 17,402, against 16,958 last year; the total issues amount to 
145,177, against 134,763, an increase of nearly 10,500; and the daily 
average issue has risen from 515 to 560. The increase has been a steady 
one throughout the year, and applies to every month alike, and all classes 
of books have shared in the increased demand. The new books added 
number 785 ; and out of 659 books withdrawn as worn out, 355 have been 
replaced by new copies ; the remainder, principally three volume novels of 
ancient date, have had their places declared as vacant, and will be replaced 
by something better. Twenty-two volumes have been lost and paid for, 
two only have been totally lost, while thirteen coming from infected houses 
have been destroyed. The plan we have followed for some years with 
regard to the last-named class continues to work well, and the public may 
use the Library with confidence without any fear of infection. I am glad 
to say once more that on the whole the books are very well used, instances 
of wilful damage being rare, but we still have to suffer through occasional 
acts of carelessness or thoughtlessness, particularly on rainy days, when 
books are occasionally brought in very wet, when a little care would have 
kept them dry. 
The Reference Library stock now numbers 9,798 works, of which 134 
have been added during the past year, and no volumes have been with- 
drawn. The Committee exercise great care in the selection of the new 
books in this department, and are most anxious to keep the Reference 
Library thoroughly up to date, particularly with regard to Scientific works. 
They would be very glad, for the sake of both departments of the Library, 
to receive suggestions from the public as to books which might be pur- 
chased, and would like to see the fullest use made of the Proposal Forms 
to be found in the Reading Rooms, merely asking that all who use them 
_ Should take care to ascertain that the books proposed are not already in 
the Library, which at present is not always done. The Specifications of 
Patents are still very largely consulted, and the Text-books presented by 
the University Correspondence College are greatly used by students 
preparing for various examinations. 
