REPORT. 



The Library and Museum Committee consider it desirable at 

 the close of the municipal year that the Council should be 

 presented with a summary of the proceedings and progress of the 

 Institution to the present time. Twelve months have now 

 elapsed since the Library was first thrown open to the public. 

 At that time, although sanguine hopes were entertained of its 

 success by those who had been most active in its establishment, 

 yet it could only be looked upon in the light of an experiment ; 

 the machinery called into action was new, the extent of the 

 demand for it uncertain, and failure was regarded by many as at 

 least possible if not probable. 



The experience of a year has thrown much light on the 

 various aspects in which the Institution may be viewed — on the 

 extent to which such an establishment was called for by the 

 public of Liverpool — on the description of books chiefly in 

 demand — on the class of persons by whom the Library is prin- 

 cipally fi-equented — on the mode in which its beneficial effects 

 are found to operate — and on the amount of encouragement pre- 

 sented for the enlargement of its means and the extension of its 

 field of operation. On aU these points much valuable information 

 has been obtained during the year, and probably the statistics of 

 the twelve months cannot be better arranged than in the order 

 just enumerated. 



