8 
there are probably several reasors which might be given in account- 
ing for it, but the principal one in my opinion, is the fact that 
the past year has been a good one for business. Most of the people 
who use the Library and Newsrooms have been in constant employ- 
ment, and have had less time for reading. and some degree of the 
novelty which attached to the opening of a special Children’s De- 
partment has worn off. Of the decrease referred to over 3000 are 
in the Children’s Library, and 5000 in Fiction, all other classes re- 
maining about the same. I am glad to report that there is very 
little to complain of in the way the books are used. 
Tables 3 and 4 deal with the Reference Library. The total 
number of books here is 10,847, including 2,822 volumes of Patents. 
The additions number 298 (including 121 Patents) against 130 last 
year, when no patents were included. The daily issue is 43 against 
41 last year, and there were 2,206 Patents consulted against 2,594 
last year. 
Various miscellanous items of information are collected in Table 
5. The number of borrowers also shows a decrease, but the propor- 
tion between the sexes remains about the same, and Table 6 giving 
the occupation of the last thousand borrowers shows that all classes 
are represented among them. Those described as of ng occupation 
are mostly married women, and to that extent, the term is, or 
should be, a misnomer. The. distribution of the same thousand 
borrowers among the wards of the town is shown in the table below, 
which varies only slightly from former years. Babington, Becket. 
Derwent, Friar Gate and Litchurch Wards all contribute above 
their share; Arboretum, King’s Mead, and Castle are below their 
proper number, although there is a considerable advance in the 
ward last named. 
PER THOUSAND. 
WARD. if ae Number _ 
| umber of | to be expected 
: : E di 
be, i ae f ji POTN Populations 
Arboretum .. ot, al 107 168 
Babington .. <i ail 148 | 122 
Becket oe 3 -| 237 198 
Castle as ae As! 70 115 
Derwent .. fs aH 71 64 
Friar Gate .. Bi 36 165 113 
King’s Mead a =f 103 145 
Litchurch .. Sh -.| 99 75 
