14 



A carefully-prepared Catalogue of the Books in tlie South Library 

 is at present passing through the press, and will shortly be ready for 

 the use of the readers. 



It is gratifying to be able to state that, notwithstanding the large 

 number of books issued, and the variety of hands into which they fall, 

 no wilful damage has been noticed tliis year, and only one small 

 volume, of the value of 2s. 6d., irrecoverably lost. Seventy-seven 

 books have been injured, or lost while in the possession of borrowers, 

 and replaced by them or their sureties. 



The sum of £138 7s. Od. has been received in fines for the undue 

 detention of books, £60 7s. 9d. from the sale of Catalogues, and for 

 tickets of membership £36 123. Od., making the total receipts 

 £235 16s. 9d., which is applied towards the expenses. 



In the past year each reader has borrowed, on an average, 56 

 volumes, at a cost, per head, of 3s. 2d. 



Taking the average for the last three years, the sum expended 

 annually in the maintenance of these Lending Libraries amounts to 

 £1,284 12s. 9d. 



For this comparatively small outlay, nearly half a million of useful 

 and entertaining books are annually circulated in the homes, and 

 among the families, of about 9,000 individuals, almost entirely of the 

 humbler classes. 



BOTANIC GARDENS, AND WAVERTREE PARK. 



The Committee feel pleasure in calling public attention to the 

 present condition of the Botanic Gardens, which, it is believed, have 

 never, since their establishment, been in so thorough a state of 

 efficiency. In addition to the scientific arrangement, which is 

 admirably adapted for botanical study, the new parterres and terraced 

 gardens have this season presented one of the most brilliant displays 

 of colour and taste which a profusion of flowers could produce for the 



