THE LENDING LIBRARIES. 



The encouraging aspect of this part of the Institution has been more 

 than fdlly maintained during the year. The increase in the demand 

 for hooks has been beyond all previous calculation, and has reached an 

 extent beyond which it will be impossible to carry it with the present 

 stafiF and the means now at the command of the Committee. 



The progress of the Libraries will be seen at a glance by the fol- 

 lowing tabular statements : — 



Number of volumes issued during the 11 months ending 30th Aug., 1854 . . 35,978 



during the year ending 31st Aug., 1855 99,021 



during the year ending 30th Aug., 1856 229,348 



Out of this number of 364,347 books lent, only four have been 

 permanently lost to the Libraries. 



During the year, thirty volumes have been lost or injured whilst in 

 the hands of readers, and replaced. In only four instances have the 

 guarantees been called on to make good the defalcation. 



The number of volumes passed through the Libraries in receipts and 

 issues during the year has been 450,947,- being at the rate of 1,474 

 volumes per day, during the 310 days the Libraries have been open. 



The rate of increase of the books and readers is as follows : — 



No. of Vols. BeadeT& 



In the Libraries at the commencemeut, 18th Oct., 1853 . . 2,000 30 



„ on the 31st Aug., 1854 4,435 1,800 



„ 31st „ 1855 8,054 4,244 



„ „ 30th „ 1856 13,254 5,200 



The total number of individuals who have enjoyed the privilege of 

 borrowing books on the recommendation of two householders since the 

 commencement is 8,350. It was found, however, that many had ceased 

 to use the Libraries, and a regular system of testing and revising the 

 list of readers was adopted, in the beginning of the year. 3,150 have 



