GENEEAL liEPOBT. 



The Departmental Reports, wliioli are appended, set out in intere^tin^ 

 detail the Aahiable Avork done l)y this ^ronp of institntions (hu'ing the 

 past year. 



One of the most encouraging- features is the steady growth of an 

 intelligent ajipreciation and nse of the facilities for education and self- 

 improvement which are thus ])laced at the disposal of the public. 



The opening of the Central Lending Library, a little more than twelv(! 

 months ago, has proved a remarkable success, li).5,449 volumes having 

 l)een issued during the past year. 



The magnificent new Library and Heading Rooms at Everton, which 

 w ere opened on the 9th October last, have been nightly crowded, and, in the 

 short time which has since elapsed, 92,733 volumes have been taken otit 

 by readers. In this Library we have one of the most perfect and 

 l)est-eqtiipped Public Libraries in the country. 



The New Reading Room at Kensington is making progress, and will 

 supply the additional accommodation so long needed. 



Land has been secured in Parliament Street for the erection of a new 

 South Library — the present Library being quite inadequate to meet the 

 wants of the large population in this district. 



There is a ilemand for Libraries in other parts of the Oity, and in <lue 

 course of time a further extension of District Libraries will have to be 

 contemplated. The Parliamentary obligation to establish Libraries in the 

 added areas also presses for consid(M-ation, and during the ensuing yeai- 

 it is hoped that Libraries will be opened in Toxteth and Walton. 



The establishment and maintenance of Lending Libraries is attended 

 with considerable cost, and it will be impossible to meet all the demands 

 which have been made out of the financial resources at present at the 

 disposal of the Committee. 



