8 
The number of new borrowers during the year is about the same as 
usual, nearly 1,100, and I should fancy that the number of those using 
the Library is greater than ever. ‘The number of cards cancelled through 
deaths or removals is only 107, but the number of borrowers who with- 
draw without notice is considerable, and the number of those who only 
borrow intermittently is larger still, so that the actual number of borrowers 
using the Library at any given time is rather difficult to gauge with cer. 
tainty. The number of books re-bound has been 534, and the number 
passing through our binder’s hands for other reasons—repairs great or 
small, numbering, lettering, labelling, &c.,—-is no less than 3,171. 
Reterence to the tables will show many other interesting facts in con- 
nection with the working of the Library. 
The occupations of our borrowers are as various as ever, as a 
reference to Table 6 will show. The large number described as of no 
occupation are, I believe, principally housewives, and the term is in their 
case to a great extent a misnomer. I again give a table showing the 
districts from which our borrowers come, the last thousand being thus 
distributed :— 
Number 
WARD. Number of | % be expected 
Borrowers according to 
: Population. 
Arboretum ... es ack 123 166 
Babington ... Ric Bo 155 121 
Becket 20 sa fis 217 196 
Castle Fe oie fee 76 114 
Derwent... the sos 61 63 
Friar Gate ... ae ih 128 III 
King’s Mead a5 = 118 143 
Litchurch ... wie ws 122 83 
Becket, Babington, Friar Gate, and Litchurch Wards furnish considerably 
more than their quota of readers, the last-named nearly half as many 
again as might be expected. Derwent Ward has about the proper number, 
and the remaining wards fall below. Castle Ward shows, however, a 
marked improvement on last year’s figures. 
The News Rooms are, if possible, more used than ever, and there 
is little to complain of in the behaviour of those who use them. I have 
always found that a word of caution is sufficient if anyone is found trans- 
gressing ; and I believe that the great majority of those who use the rooms 
are as anxious for good order as I am myself. The year has not 
passed over without a few petty thefts, but even these have been less than 
