10 



to reading. In the winter months the demand for hooks is enormous, 

 as many as 10,000 vohimes having been lent in one week. 



More books are lent on Monday than on any other day in the 

 week, not unfrequently as many as 4,000 volumes being exchanged 

 on this day. 



The number of volumes added to the Libraries this year is 3,046. 



The number of volumes in both Libraries stands thus : — 



North District 11194 



South District 12480 



Total 23674 



Further purchases have been made during the year of embossed 

 books for the blind, on Moon's system. 607 volumes of this class of 

 books have been lent to the blind during the year, and the boon seems 

 still greatly prized by those for whose benefit they have been procured. 



The Committee, being desirous to encourage the growing taste 

 for music, ordered, a few months ago, a number of Standard Musical 

 Works, comprising the most popular Oratorios, and a complete set 

 (as far as published) of the " Standard Lyric Drama," being a series 

 of the best operas, with English and Foreign words, together with 

 some other books bearing on the general science. Their introduction 

 has so far proved most successful, being greatly appreciated by the 

 musical portion of the readers. 



The pleasure derived by the sick, and those out of work, in being 

 able to borrow books to read at their own homes, is constantly coming 

 under the notice of the Superintendent ; two instances may be given. 

 An individual lingering in a hopeless consumption, whose ticket of 

 membership required renewing, writes to be excused from personal 

 attendance (as is customary, to sign his name in the Signature Book). 

 "T hope [ shall not be refused by your Committee, as this, of all 

 others, is the time T most need, and most enjoy, such a luxury. My 

 own slender stock of books is long ago exhausted, and, as you may 

 imagine, such a boon will be more highly prized than ever." Another, 

 who is at present out of employment, thus writes : — " Were I to be 

 deprived of the use of books from your excellent Libraries, my life 

 would become only a burthen and a blank," 



There have been lost or injured, while in the hands of readers, 

 during the year, 65 volumes ; of these, 48 have been replaced by the 

 Borrowers themselves, L3 by the Guarantees, and 4, of trifling value, 

 have been lost to the Libraries. 



