GENEEAL REPORT. 



The work of our Libraries has been carried on during the past 

 year with uninterrupted success, and the statistics compiled by our 

 Librarian demonstrate that while our readers have increased in numbers, 

 there has been an improvement in the quality of their reading. This is 

 especially noticeable in the increased issue of books on Science, Art and 

 Encyclopedias, and can be traced in part to the encoui-agement given to 

 our artisans to peruse works on technical subjects. All this is very 

 hopeful. So much of the future welfare of this country depends xipon 

 the interest taken by our artisans in the improvement of their handi- 

 craft, and upon their obtaining a knowledge of those great economic 

 priucij^les which regulate the demand and supply of labour and also its 

 value. 



Some idea of the work done by the affiliated institutions — Library, 

 Museums, and Art Galleries — may be gathered from the fact that 

 2,820,766 persons made use of these institutions during the year. 



The Committee feel very strongly that there is urgent necessity for 

 strengthening the Reference Library. For some years past the lack of 

 funds has prevented the Committee making purchases to the extent that 

 is necessary if the Library is to maintain its high reputation ; this lost 

 ground cannot be recovered, and this policy m\ist not be continued ; it 

 is only by the regular and systematic addition of all works of repute 

 that the character of a Library can be maintained. The responsibility 

 is a serious one, and we cannot escape from the reflection which a future 

 generation may cast upon us, that our Library was irreparably damaged 

 by the ignorance or apathy of a decade which professed itself to 

 be enlightened, progressive, an<l, above all things, anxious to be 

 called literary. 



The great work of these institutions, which represents the estimate 

 placed by this great city upon the A'alue of Art, Literature, and 

 Natural Science in the education and culture of her people, has to 

 be defrayed out of the proceeds of a rate of One Penny in the pound, just 

 one-half of what towns of far less importance consider it their tluty to 

 (•x])end upon these objects. 



