8 LIBRARIES. 



course pursued ill order to prevent as far as possible the books 

 becoming a means of contagion. It may be mentioned that well 

 nigh fifty years have elapsed since the Chief Librarian issued the 

 first book in connection with the South Branch Lending Library, 

 and since then more than twenty millions of books have been 

 circulated from the Libraries, and yet he is unable to mention a 

 single authenticated case of infection traceable to this cause. Every 

 reasonable precaution is taken, notwithstanding, to prevent the 

 library books jeopardising the public health. The Medical 

 Officer of Health has the authority of the Library 

 Committee to disinfect, or absolutely destroy, any Library 

 book or books found in a house where infectious disease exists. 

 That this authority is not disregarded is evidenced by the fact that 

 during the past year 13 volumes were destroyed and 178 volumes 

 disinfected, and similar action has been taken for some years past. 



The number of borrowers availing themselves of Hie privileges 

 of the Lending Libraries is 22,244. These may all be considered 

 active readers, as the rule requiring guarantee forms to be renewed 

 every two years tends to eliminate nominal readers. Guarantors 

 have the satisfaction of knowing that their responsibility terminates 

 after this period. To those who are desirous of knowing the social 

 status of the majority of those who use the lending branches. Table 

 YI will probably be found interesting. For the most part they 

 belong to the working classes and to persons of education but of 

 very limited means. The publication of special catalogues of books 

 for the young enables parents and guardians to allow their boys and 

 girls between the ages of nine and fourteen to use the Libraries 

 with greater confidence and satisfaction than formerly. Every 

 care is taken that the books selected for them shall be bright, 

 healthy, and encouraging. The total number of volumes issued 

 during the year from these special juvenile catalogues is 132,535! 

 The books lent in type adapted for the blind are 1,139. Thanks to 

 the generosity and kindly interest taken in the blind of Liverpool 

 by Miss Mary L. Hornby, few public Libraries have so large and 

 excellent a Library of books adapted to their special needs as our 

 own. The books presented by this lady are always of a cheerful 

 and attractive character, and calculated to brighten and enliven 



