View report page

187
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
CHIEF LIBRARIAN.
To the Libraries Committee, Borough of Hammersmith.
Gentlemen,
The past year will be memorable in the history of
the Public Libraries of Hammersmith, it having
witnessed the completion and opening of the new
Central Library, built chiefly through the generosity
of Dr. Andrew Carnegie. The result of this splendid
addition to the Libraries of the Borough has so far
been satisfactory ; all departments have been well used,
but the issue in the Reference Library is the most
encouraging feature, and it is hoped that this most
valuable department of the Library will receive greater
attention from the public in the future than has been
the case hitherto. It was decided to remove the
majority of the books in the Reference Library at
Ravenscourt Park to the new building, and the increased
accommodation has already attracted a large number
of readers. The issue in this department for 154 days
reached 11,462 volumes, an average of 74 per day.
The stock at the present time numbers 6,024 volumes,
173 having been added during the year.
At Ravenscourt Park the Reference issue was 2,254
volumes, and at Shepherd's Bush 8,492, an average of
27 per day. The total number of volumes referred to
in all the Libraries was 22,208, a number much greater
than that of any previous year.
LENDING DEPARTMENTS.
The number of volumes in the Lending Departments
of the four Libraries is 35,186, which are