LIBRARIAN'S REPORT. 



To the Chairman and Members of the Derby Free Library and 

 Micseum Committee. 



Gentlemen, 

 p HAVE very great pleasure in laying before you ruy Eleventh Annual 

 -*- Eeport. The year, although presenting no special features, has 

 been a busy one, and I believe that at no time in its history, has the 

 Institution been more popular or more useful to the ratepayers. I have 

 prepared for your information the usual tables, and on those a few 

 remarks will perhaps be acceptable, not only to yourselves, but to the 

 Council, and to the large section of the general public who take an 

 interest in the Library, and its work. 



Tables 1 and 2 deal with the Lending Department, the first with 

 the stock, and the second with the issues. Reductions in the stock 

 have been brought about in three ways, five volumes have been lost and 

 paid for, ten have been destroyed because they have been in infected 

 houses, and those who are at all nervous about the Library being a 

 possible source of infection may be re-assured that every possible precau- 

 tion is taken to prevent it. Three volumes have been totally lost through 

 default of both borrower and guarantor, not a large number consider- 

 ing the vast number of books issued. The stock has been further re- 

 duced by a very large number of books withdrawn as worn out. A 

 large number of these were the old three volume novels, to which I 

 believe we have now finally bid farewell, and do so without regret. 

 Those worth replacing are certain to be issued in one volume form, and our 

 shelves are rid of an encumbrance. Against the 1,268 books withdrawn, 

 we have only replaced at present 305. A large number will not be re- 

 placed, but about 120 are on order, and the Book Committee have 

 another long list to go through. The new books added during the year 

 have been 518 against 1,037 last year, but in the latter number were 

 included 474 for the Children's Library, The amount spent on new 

 books during the year is £173 against £276 last year, but £59 of the 

 latter amount was incurred for the Children's Library. The total 

 stock stands at 445 less than at the commencement of the year. Turning 

 now to the issues, it will be noticed that there is a gross increase of 



