LIBRARY DEPARTMENT. 
Cuter LIBRARIAN’S REPORT. 
The statistical record of the work of the Reference and Lending 
Branches during the past year shows that they have fully maintained 
their popularity and usefulness. The total volumes issued in the 
Library reading-rooms and for home reading number 2,836,213 
volumes. Besides these there were similarly issued 1,580,835 
magazines and periodicals. | Newspaper readers are calculated at 
1,543,606, and the attendances at the various free lectures given at 
seventeen different centres amounted to 92,886. What the value 
and effect of such an amount of reading is cannot easily be 
calculated, but that it must be beneficial may be taken for granted. 
Of the art books in the Hornby Library 1,726 were consulted, 
and 3,584 prints were referred to and examined. The total visitors 
amounted during the year to 2,510. The heating and ventilation of 
this room has been much improved; and the prints, which in 
number and value form such an important feature of the Library, 
have received considerable attention in being protected from injury 
by being put into loose mounts. Already some 3,500 have been so 
treated. 
There have been fluctuations in the issue of various 
classes of books at all the Libraries, but not of such a 
character as to call for particular comment. It is interesting, 
however, to note that there has been an increase of 47,483 volumes 
issued to our boy and girl readers, making the total issues to them 
during the year 381,986 volumes. Of this number the majority, as 
may be expected, consisted of tales and stories, but the issues in the 
following classes are deserving of mention:—History and 
Biography, 10,097 vols.; Arts and Handicrafts, 7,008; Voyages 
and Travels, 6,210; Natural History, 4,334; Poetry, 1,462. At 
