44 



[Proc. B. N. F. C, 



of issues, and the cost, in pence and decimals of a penny, for each 

 inhabitant of the respective towns : — 





u C 



1—1 



Reference Library. 



Lending 



Library. 





Stock. 



Yearly Issue. 



Stock. 



Yearly Issue. 



Birmingham.. 



4-II 



41,539 



189,073 



37,943 



305,958 



Blackburn .. 



3-i8 



10,414 



11,592 



10,275 



35,523 



Bolton 



311 



25,930 



76,399 



12,971 



71,658 



Bradford 



• 3 '40 



11,464 



18,920 



12,860 



109,261 



Coventry- 



2-97 



5,534 



no return 



14,777 



79,626 



Derby 



• 3"05 



1,910 



1,940 



9,385 



146,017 



Dundee 



• 4-53 



5,073 



89,316 



23,942 



136,162 



Exeter 



. 4'oi 



1,904 



. 127 



8,672 



20,831 



Leeds 



■ 3-80 



18,317 



38,306 



34,800 



339,622 



Leicester 



. 2-36 



3,786 



6,829 



10,532 



105,244 



Liverpool 



• 5'94 



63,146 



409,114 



42,035 



416,099 



Manchester .. 



5-08 



134,509 



211,915 



79,650 



554,779 



Norwich 



1-41 



3,354 



10,450 



no return 



no return 



Paisley 



. 2-84 



4,870 



2,418 



11,651 



75,795 



Sheffield 



. 673 



6,2c8 



16,519 



29,835 



276,546 



Stimulated by the provisions of the Public Libraries Act, the 

 authorities of the principal towns of the kingdom have been 

 stirred into action, and everywhere there are arising noble 

 buildings, as the appropriate homes of literature, science, and 

 art — all of them open free to the public, under very reasonable 

 and necessary regulations. This is the intended result of the 

 several Acts, the advantages of which should be secured by every 

 enlightened community. Claiming to be included within this 

 category, Belfast, too, should forthwith adopt the provisions of 

 the Public Libraries Act, and take steps to secure a suitable 

 central institution of literature, science, and art. With this 

 view I would suggest that the proprietary rights in the existing 

 institutions affected by the undertaking, should be secured by 

 purchase or otherwise, and, if possible, the Belfast Library, 

 Belfast Museum, and School of Art should be amalgamated. 

 Difficulties will, of course, arise, the history of all similar 



