LIBRARIES. 19 
number of issues of books from the two Branch Libraries in Great 
Nelson Street and Upper Parliament Street was in 1880 when a 
total of 436415 was recorded. The issues for the past year 
amounted to 1578309 volumes. 
The increase of readers is also interesting. By deducting from 
the population returns the number of persons over 70 years of age 
and under 10, an accurate estimate can be made of the number 
of possible Readers within the City limits. In 1881 the number of 
Borrowers from the Libraries was 1 in 35 of the total possible 
Readers. In 1891 it was 1 in 30. In 1901 it was 1 in 20, while in 
1911 it was 1 in 11. 
STOCKTAKING. 
During the year the stocks of the Branch Libraries were checked 
and a report submitted to the Committee. 
Every effort is being made to improve the condition of the stocks 
in the various Libraries. N early eleven thousand soiled and worn- 
out volumes were withdrawn, for over seven thousand of which clean 
copies were substituted. 
A scheme was submitted and adopted by the Committee for a 
re-arrangement of the hours of the Staffs in the Lending Libraries. 
The services of the extra assistants engaged for evening work were 
discontinued, and the economy thus effected enabled the 
Committee to carry out a long desired reform of the hours of labour 
of the large number of boys employed in the Reference and Branch 
Libraries. 
The Toxteth Branch Library was painted and decorated and 
alterations made to the newspaper stands which enable the Reading 
Room to be more effectively supervised. 
Lectures. 
The number of Free Lectures delivered during the year was 
167 (29 in the Picton Lecture Hall and 138 in various districts), 
a reduction of eighteen on the number delivered in 1910. The 
total attendances numbered 77910. The average attendance of 466 
