GENERAL REPORT. 



Although the Committee have been beset by difficulties of a varied 

 nature, chiefly in their financial aspects, they are encouraged to believe 

 that their labours during the past year were sustained and appreciated by a 

 community who continue to aA'ail themselves in such large numbers of 

 the advantages which the institution affords. 



The parliamentary powers obtained during the last session now enables 

 the Committee to administer the " Library and Museum Act of 1852 " 

 to the fullest extent, and frees it from many moot points which heretofore 

 presented themselves, notably so, that a doubt has been dispelled as to 

 the Lending Libraries forming a part of the Corpus of the main Library 

 in William Brown Street. 



The exigencies of our trade and commerce having of recent years 

 necessitated the mioration of a large and industrial section of the 

 community to a residential neighbourhood somewhat removed from the 

 centre of the City, it was deemed desirable in their interest to extend 

 the area of the District Libraries, resulting in the erection of one in the 

 Township and Ward of West Derby, which it is hoped will be utilized 

 to its utmost capacity, for it may here be mentioned that in addition to 

 le Circulating Library which has been supplied with a higher 

 Itandard of literature, a commodious Reading Room has been attached 

 it. 



The extent to which District Libraries may ultimately be established 

 nU greatly depend upon the financial resources of the Committee, and 

 3on that question the dictum of the ratepayers must sooner or later be 

 renounced. 



In the Museum Department a series of addresses have been delivered 

 persons competent to demonstrate the advantages of the study of 

 fatural History. 



A higher standard of Public Lectures has been aimed at, as will be 

 lade obvious by glancing at last year's programmes, more particularly 

 ), those of the Autumn course treating on scientific subjects, which have 

 kecessitated a small entrance charge being made. 



The Art Department, which has been emulated by so many other 

 lunicipalities, continues to hold out encouragement to the serious art 



