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11
The Reference Library continues to attract an ever-growing
number of readers, many of them being teachers and students.
The grouping of the books in classes and the free access to them
enable visitors to obtain information with the greatest facility.
In the Lending Department the number of borrowers has again
largely increased, this being especially noticeable in the case of
schoolmasters and teachers, of whom there are 156 holding
borrowers' tickets. The News-room and the Magazine-room in
the evenings are frequently occupied by nearly a hundred readers
at the same time.
The Committee have to express their cordial thanks for many
generous gifts of books, notably from the Mayor (W. J. Lancaster,
Esq., J P.), Sir George Newnes, Bart., M.P., and Councillor
J. E. Parker. These gifts have proved most opportune, as lack
of funds prevented the addition of any books by purchase.
Lending
Library.
There are 7,147 volumes in this department; and the
total number of borrowers is 3,848. New borrowers
to the number of 748 joined the Library during the
year, but as no new books were purchased the number of books
issued, 54,645, is considerably less than last year. Full information,
including a classification, may be found on page 14.
Magazine
Room.
For this room there are provided 32 monthly magazines
and reviews, three quarterlies, and 37 weekly
periodicals, which may be found in the list on pages
18 and 19.
The magazines are transferred to the Lending Library at the
end of each month, and are bound as the volumes are completed.
News
Koom.
Thirty copies of daily newspapers, including the
more important provincial dailies, and 88 weekly
newspapers and periodicals are provided in this room.
On page 17 of the Report may be found a list of gifts, and
on page 13 a statement of the receipts and disbursements for the
year.
During the year Mr. W. H. Meyrick, who had been a Member
of the Committee since June, 1899, resigned, and Mr. Frank
Newnes was elected by the Council to fill the vacant position.
Twelve General Meetings, and two Sub-Committee Meetings have
been held.