18 



LENDING LIBRARIES. 



The books issued for home reading from the Lending Libraries 

 probably indicate more clearly than those issued in the Reference 

 Library the jjublic taste in reading. It must not be lost sight of that 

 those who use the Lending Libraries are largely young people, whose 

 taste is decidedly romantic and adventurous, and who, by their reading 

 industry, do much to create the large figures under the head of prose 

 fiction. The three lending branches have lent for home reading 431,841 

 volumes. 



East Branch Libraey : — The principal event during the past year 

 connected with the Lending Libraries has been the inauguration on the 

 31st January, 1890, of a new branch in Kensington, known as the 

 East Library. The success which has attended its opening has exceeded 

 the highest expectation. No doubt much of this is due to its attractive 

 appearance and good position. The ornate and pleasing elevation is the 

 design of the City Surveyor and the ground plan and working arrange- 

 ments the suggestion of tiie Chief Librai'ian. This library is the 

 outcome of the feeling of the Committee to extend the advantages of the 

 free library system, and is a part of a scheme which included the rebuilding 

 and remodelling of the present North and South branches, a scheme which 

 the Committee still hope to carry out whenever their financial position 

 will permit. The library combines a lending department for the issue of 

 books for home reading and a reading room for the perusal of books, 

 magazines, and newspapers on the premises. The issue of books for home 

 reading since the date of opening number 106,884 volumes, and those 

 issued in the reading room 33,464 volumes. The volumes in stock 

 number 8,202. There have been four books lost and paid for, and one 

 book has been stolen. The readers who have constituted themselves 

 borrowers from the lending library numbered on the 31st December last 

 3,968 ; of them 1,581 are females, and 2,387 males ; 1,537 are under 21 

 years of age, and 2,431 are above that age. The following table gives 

 the classification of readers according to occupation, and the next table 

 the classification of the books lent in the reading room and for home 

 reading : — 



