THE LENDING LIBEAEIES. 



There is no portion of the Institution to which the Committee can 

 refer with such unmixed satisfaction as the Lending Libraries. They 

 were established about two years since, as an experiment, with 

 considerable doubts in the minds of many as to the successful working 

 out of the problem. During the first year considerable caution was 

 observed. The Libraries were deposited at the North and South 

 Corporation Schools, and were only opened on two evenings in the 

 week each. The eagerness evinced by the working classes to obtain 

 books, and the care generally taken of them, encouraged the Committee 

 to enlarge the sphere of their operations. In December last the South 

 Library was removed to premises in Hardy Street, near Great George 

 Street, and opened daily for the issue of books ; and in June the North 

 Library was removed to Great Nelson Street North, with similar 

 facilities. The result has been far beyond the expectations of the 

 most sanguine, and presents a very gratifying picture of the desire for 

 knowledge, and of the order and good conduct of those — principally of 

 the humbler classes — who enjoy the privileges of the Libraries. 



The number of tickets issued, on the guarantee of two resident 

 householders, during the first year was 1,902; during the second year, 

 2,689 ; making in the whole 4,591. Of these 347 have since been 

 cancelled, and 154 are still uncalled for; leaving 4,090 individuals at 

 present entitled to take out books. 



The number of volumes in tlie Libraries at the commencement of the year 



was 4435 



Added during the yeai- 3619 



Present number of vohimes . . 8054 



This addition, though comparatively large, has not kept pace with 

 the increase of readers. During the first year, with 4,435 volumes on 



