BRITISH MUSEUM 



GENERAL PROGRESS AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM 



The total number of visitors to the Museum again showed a shght 

 rise, the figures being 1,201,639 as against 1,191,758 in 1929 and 

 1,181,617 in 1928. This was entirely due to a rise in the number of 

 Sunday visitors, 104,097 visitors being numbered on Sunday afternoons 

 as against 93,804 in 1929, whereas the weekday numbers fell off by 412. 

 The highest monthly record was again in August (136,687), although 

 it Was far behind the record for the same month in 1929 (161,697). 



The total number of students who visited particular departments 

 rose by 13,186 to the highest total yet recorded (285,538 as against 

 272,352 in 1929 and 276,890 in 1928). This increase was chiefly found 

 in the Reading Room (225,660 against 214,375 in 1929 and 215,449 

 in 1928) and Manuscript Department (12,488 against 10,873 in 1929 

 and 10,665 in 1928). The number of artist-students visiting the 

 Sculpture Galleries fell from 1,671 to 659, the lowest on record of 

 recent years. 



The number of volumes suppUed to readers in the Reading Room 

 (exclusive of those on the open shelves) was 1,537,569, an increase of 

 104,158 on the preceding year (1,433,411). The number of readers was 

 225,660, an average of 744 daily ; in 1929 it was 214,375, an average 

 of 707 daily. The average number of volumes called for by readers 

 increased from 6-68 in 1929 to 6-81. The number of readers in the 

 Newspaper Room was the highest on record, 18,920 as against 17,431 

 in 1929 and 17,784 in 1928 ; and the number of visitors to the Hendon 

 Repository for the purpose of consulting newspapers showed an increase 

 to 569 from 503 in 1929. 1,691 volumes Were sent from Hendon to 

 Bloomsbury. In the Department of MSS. 40,298 MSS. and 8,392 

 Charters and seals were issued for study, and Magna Oharta was shown 

 to 27,260 visitors. 



The lectures of the Official Guide-Lecturers were attended by 

 approximately 36,350 persons. 



The figures indicating the use of the photographic studio and other 

 machinery for reproductions continue to be very heavy. The books 

 and MSS. issued for photography numbered 5,412 (as against 4,839 in 

 1929). Of the MSS. alone 22,549 photographs or photostats were taken. 

 In the Departments of Prints and Drawings and Antiquities the figures 

 were less than in the preceding year. In that of Coins and Medals 568 

 electrotypes and 3,782 casts were made, as against 756 and 3,825 in 

 the previous year. 



Of the temporary exhibitions in the galleries during the year the 

 following may be mentioned : A special exhibition of Itahan Illu- 

 minated MSS. (in connexion with the Itahan Exhibition at Burlington 

 House). A similar exhibition of English Illuminated MSS. (con- 

 currently with the Exhibition of Mediaeval English Art at the Victoria 

 and Albert Museum). The Luttrell Psalter and the Bedford Book of 

 Hours were specially shown to many visitors. An exhibition al 

 bindings of MSS. and Printed Books. Itahan Drawings and Woodcuts 



