11 



LENDING LIBEARIES. 



Ten years have elapsed since the Lending Libraries were established. The 

 experience gained during this period proves most conclusively that the working 

 classes fully appreciate the importance of the means of education and rational 

 amusement which they afford. 



A plain statement of facts will suffice to exhibit their usefulness. 



Issues for the Year ending 31st August, 18G3. 



North District Library 233,768 



South District Library 227,312 



Total Issues 461,080 volumes, or more 



than the entire population of the borough. 



Since the commencement, 38,705 persons have availed themselves of the 

 privilege of obtaining books for home and family reading. 



Seventeen hundred persons frequently visit the Library in one day, and were 

 it not for their orderly deportment, it would be nest to impossible for the 

 officials to get through their work. 



From the establishment of the Libraries on the 18th October, 1853, to the 

 31st August, 1863, inclusive, three million four hundred and three thousand 

 volumes have been lent. 



The value of the books lost to the Institution from the outset amounts to 

 £3 Os. 6d., or about 6s. per annum. 



Nearly one-half of the Works in the Libraries have been purchased second- 

 hand, and many were considerably worn when admitted. Bearing this fact in 

 mind, and taking into account the homes and hands through which the books 

 are incessantly passing, it is gratifying to be able to state that the wear and 

 tear for ten years only averages £16 10s. 3d. for each branch. 



BOOKS ADDED DURING THE TEAK. 



By Purchase 2,716 vols. 



By Donation 136 „ 



Total 2,852 „ 



BOOKS IN STOCK. 



The Libraries opened with 2,000 volumes. At the present time the stock 

 of books numbers 35,573 volumes, which are thus distributed, viz. : — 



North Branch .'.16,589 vols. 



South Branch 16,981 „ 



