County Borough of Derby. 
PSSST SSSOeSe 
TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT 
OF THE 
Free Library and JY2useum Committee. 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1897. 
POSSSSSSCSSOSSOOOOE 
HE Free Library and Museum Committee have pleasure in laying 
before the Town Council their Twenty-sixth Annual Report. 
They are glad to report that the Institution of which they have 
charge is in a prosperous condition. The Library now contains 
30,184 volumes, an increase of 1,326 over last year’s return. The 
issues are slightly less, but this, and all other matters of detail are 
fully discussed in the accompanying Report from the Librarian, to 
which, with the tables appended, all interested in the details of the 
work done, are referred. 
The Children’s Library retains its popularity, and is doing good 
work, although the novelty has somewhat worn off, and the Commit- 
tee are more than ever convinced that the step they took in estab- 
lishing it was a wise one. 
The second year’s work at the Arboretum Branch Reading 
Room is also very encouraging. The attendances were counted 
during the months of December, March, June, and September, and 
{ reached the total of 37,829. This gives for the year at the same 
rate, a total of 113,487, as compared with 107,257 last year. The 
cost of its maintenance has been kept well within the Committee’s 
estimate. 
The Catalogue of the Scientific works in the Reference Library 
has been published during the year, and also a small new edition of 
the books in the Devonshire Library, bringing it up to date. The 
