4 GENERAL REPORT. 
help us in this good work. Who can tell the power for happiness 
and of advancement in life we are placing within the reach of the 
youth of our City. We are making them the citizens of all times, 
the denizens of every country; we are bringing them into contact 
with the wisest, the wittiest men of every age, with all that is 
beautiful and elevating in poetry and prose; and we are placing in 
their hands a taste for reading which will be to them at all times 
and under all circumstances a source of entertainment and pleasure. 
How many will shape their careers in life from their interest being 
awakened by works of science, art, or discovery, and how many will 
find new interests in life, new avenues of usefulness, and, let us hope, 
wider horizons of private and public opportunity and duty? All 
this is inspiring, and should form a complete answer to those who 
say that public money and private beneficence could be expended 
in a better way. 
We have further extended our system of “open shelves,” from 
which books can be taken and read without any written application. 
The books have been carefully selected, with a view to popularity of 
subject, and the few books we have lost proves, I think, that our 
readers gratefully appreciate the trust reposed in their honour. 
We are under Parliamentary obligation to provide Libraries in 
Garston and Fazakerley, and the Walton Library is already too 
small for this neighbourhood. These matters are now engaging our 
attention. 
We have made an advance towards bringing our Institutions into 
closer touch with the University. It has long been evident that in 
the interests of higher education this ought to be done, and we are 
glad to welcome a scheme for mutual co-operation which has already 
met with the approval of this Committee and the Senate of the 
University. 
Our system of Free Lectures has been largely appreciated; 164 
Lectures were delivered at 22 Centres, and the attendance was 
89,195. The Lecture Sub-Committee have exercised care in selecting 
the subjects of the Lectures, to ensure that while they are 
entertaining and attractive they have a distinct educational value. 
