6 LIBRARIES. 



the state of trade in the city, more particularly at the docks. This 

 last year the reduction in works of fiction issued in this room, 

 amounting to 56,689, is somewhat remarkable. There has also been 

 a decline in the magazines issued, and in the number of readers 

 referring to the newspapers. 



It is evident that reading has not been resorted to to fill up 

 spare time to the extent as heretofore. There have been satis- 

 factory increases in the issue of books under the heads of History, 

 Biography, Education, Commerce, and Political Economy. Of the 

 increased issues made under the two last headings, no doubt, much 

 is due to the interest which many persons have taken in the Fiscal 

 Question, and to the special catalogue which was printed of the 

 books, pamphlets and review articles in the Library on that much- 

 debated subject. 



The Hornby Room for the storing and display of the magnificent 

 collection of art books, prints and autographs bequeathed by the late 

 Hugh Frederick Hornby, of Liverpool -and for the erection of 

 which he also bequeathed a sum of £10,000 -is now commenced, 

 and will, when completed, be of considerable architectural merit. 



The severance of the official connection of Mr. Thomas Forniby as 

 Deputj^ Librarian calls for special mention, alike from his long and 

 faithful services of nearly fifty years, and from his book knowledge 

 and the assistance he was always willing to render the general body 

 of readers in the Reference Library. He retires from active duty 

 with the good wishes of numerous readers and the entire Library 

 Staff. 



The total number of volumes issued in the Lending Libraries 

 amounts to 1,437,829. This is an increase of nearly 50,000. The 

 number of volumes distributed in these Branch Libraries for homo 

 reading is 105,764. The readers holding tickets for this purpose 

 number 25,534. This shows a decrease over the total of the previous 

 year of 423. The Library Committee, with the object of removing, 

 as far as they can judiciously, impediments to the use of the Branch 

 Libraries, have resolved to accept the name of one guarantor, instead 

 of two as formerly, for those who choose to constitute themselves 



