8 LIBRARIES. 



was given to the collection and preservation of such prints and documents 

 as would serve to illustrate the history of Liverpool and Lancashire, by the 

 purchase, some forty years ago. of a very large number of maps, original 

 drawings, views, portraits, &c. relating to the County Palatine ; and, from 

 that time forward, additions to the collection have been made not only 

 manuscript and printed matter being gathered, but drawings being 

 expressly made for the Committee of such ancient and notable buildings 

 as were to be demolished for purposes of street improvement. 



In accordance with the scope of the work of a public library sketched out 

 in the original special Act of Parliament, lectures formed a part ; and in the 

 building erected by Sir William Brown, a lecture hall holding about 400 

 people was provided. On Jan. 19th 1866 free lectures were inaugurated: 

 the earliest series being chiefly upon scientific subjects, including natural 

 philosophy, zoology, geology and mining, the non-metallic elements, chemistry 

 and metallurgy, practical perspective, decorative art. <fec. Later on, a more 

 popular element was introduced into the lecture series, in order to provide 

 for the lesser studious section of the public. The success which attended 

 the delivery of lectures in this smaller lecture theatre led to the construc- 

 tion of a new lecture hall, accommodating 1.500 persons, in the basement of 

 the Picton Reading Room. This hall was opened on January 3rd 1882 

 by a lecture on " Our Municipal Institutions : their past and future," with 

 an attendance of 603. From the time when the free lectures were first 

 delivered, each returning Autumn and Winter have bad their varied 

 courses of these aids and incentives to reading and study provided by the 

 Committee, who view their delivery with much interest and satisfaction. 

 The average attendance at the free lectures to-day is 1.274. 



In 1853, two branch lending libraries were established in a tentative 

 way for the issue of books for home reading ; and some years later five (now 

 reduced to three) evening reading rooms were opened in various school 

 rooms, provided with a liberal supply of magazines and newspapers. It was 

 not, however, until the election of the present Chairman, Sir William B. 

 Forwood, that these auxiliary libraries received due attention. Since then 

 four new branch libraries have been opened and several others projected. 

 Women and boys' rooms have been provided in several of the libraries, and 

 a careful selection of juvenile literature placed on the shelves, calculated to 

 please and instruct the numerous young readers and satisfy the wishes of 

 their parents and guardians. 



