(i LlBKAfeTfeS. 



shews an increase of some TOO volumes. History and Biography 

 1,500, Travels, Topography, Gazetteers, &c, 2,700, Politics, Law, &c, 

 900, Poetry and Dramatic Literature 800, and works of General 

 Reference 1,800. A more satisfactory proof of the growing 

 popularity of the Reference Library is exemplified by the fact that 

 5.714 more persons used the Reference Library last year than in 

 1900, and this, notwithstanding the somewhat lengthy period it was 

 closed. 



The completion of the new scheme of heating and ventilating 

 the Brown Library enables readers and staff to fully appreciate the 

 improvement effected in both respects. No part of the institution 

 has so thoroughly tested the efficacy of the new system as this : and 

 with results which leave little doubt of their important bearing on 

 the health and comfort of all concerned. 



The cataloguing of the art books presented by the late Mr. Hugh 

 Frederick Hornby is being steadily proceeded with. As the majority 

 of the books are unique in character by virtue of their extra plates, 

 autograph letters, or artistic bindings, the work is necessarily slower 

 than ordinary cataloguing. Such a collection of books deserves to 

 be dealt with in a manner every way commensurate with its value 

 and importance. 



There was held in the Reference Library during the year another 

 of those exhibitions of books, prints, and drawings which have given 

 so much pleasure and revealed to the citizens of Liverpool what a 

 valuable and interesting property they possess in their Public 

 Reference Library. The exhibition was open two days, and was 

 attended by 5,400 persons. 



The acquisition by the Committee of a collection of autograph 

 letters, deeds and other documents connected with the Moores of the 

 Old Hall, Oldhall Street, and later of Bankhall, is a matter of much 

 importance, and deserves prominent mention in this report. The 

 Moores were the family pur excellence of Liverpool for nearly 500 

 years. AVe find a Sir John de la More living at the Old Hall as 

 early as 1236 : and, in the time of Edward I., Richard de la More 

 and John de la More represented Liverpool in Parliament. Sir 

 Peter de la More was Speaker of the House of Commons in 1377 ; 

 while Colonel John More was Governor of Liverpool Castle, and 



