BRITISH MUSEUM 5 



GENERAL PROGRESS AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 



Visitors. 



The total number of visitors to the British Museum was 1,049,516, 

 as compared with 1,134,471 in 1937. Except for slightly increased 

 attendances in April and June, the decrease affected every month of the 

 year. No satisfactory explanation can be offered for the lessened 

 attendance, the lowest recorded since 1926. 



The visitors attending the free lecture tours of the Official Guide 

 Lecturers numbered 20,038 (18,501 in 1937); and the visitors conducted 

 by the authorised unofficial guides, for whose services moderate fees are 

 payable, numbered 8,781 as compared with 8,883 in 1937. 



Students. 



The Reading Rooms of the Library, including the CoHndale Newspaper 

 Library, the Map Room and the State Paper Room, received 241,778 

 visits. 



The difficulties of service caused by reconstruction recorded in the 

 Reports since 1935 continued; the number of volumes supplied to 

 readers was 2,030,476, as compared with 1,957,382 in 1937. 



42,827 manuscripts and 5,706 charters and seals were issued in the 

 Student's Room of the Department of Manuscripts. 20,073 volumes were 

 consulted in the Department of Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts. 



The total number of visits paid by students to the various departments 

 of the Museum was 298,759, as compared with 312,273 in 1937. 



Photography and Casts. 



The number of books issued for photography was 4,205 (including 125 

 used at Colindale) and of manuscripts 2,340. 



From other departments of the Museum, 3,076 objects were photo- 

 graphed. 



162 casts and 53 new moulds were made. 



In the Department of Coins and Medals, 5,900 casts and 122 electro- 

 types have been made, and work has also been done for the Egyptian, 

 and British and Medieval Departments. 



Studio. 



The output of the Photographic Studio 

 table : — 



shoAvn in the following 



Negatives 

 Prints 



Lantern Slides 

 Photostats 



1933 



3,374 



9,642 



1,075 



21,695 



1934 



3,429 



8,750 



1,302 



22,993 



1935 



3,782 



9,533 



872 



24,424 



1936 



4,090 



11,853 



660 



24,791 



1937 



4,655 

 11,310 



1,046 

 23,904 



1938 



4,678 



16,173 



798 



19,170 



Loans of Lantern Slides. 



1,668 lantern slides were issued on loan, as compared with 2,140 in 

 1937. 



2 20495 A 3 



