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38
(L&tantistoortb public libraries.
ANNUAL REPORT.
The Divisional Committee have little to record except the
steady progress and increasing usefulness of the two libraries.
At the November Meeting of the Council no change was
made in the Committee, all the old members being unanimously
re-elected. The Committee elected Councillor W. J. Harrison as
their Chairman in place of the Rev. W. Reed, M.A., who had
occupied the chair for the last two years.
During the year 614 new books have been purchased and 407
replacements made for the West Hill Library, and 392 and 35 respectively-for
the Allfarthing Lane Branch. In making additions
the Committee have paid special attention to the supply of Technical,
Musical, and Topographical works.
The stock of books at West Hill Library now consists of
17,000 volumes.
At Allfarthing Lane Branch there are now 2,680 volumes, an
increase of 392 during the year.
The number of readers' tickets available at West Hill on
March 31st, 1902, was 2,111, as against 2,450 the previous year;
at Allfarthing Lane 1,864, as against 1,699 the previous year.
The issue of books at West Hill has reached 51,577, an increase
of 4,408 on that of 1902; and that at Allfarthing Lane has
been 39,009, an increase of 1,720.
Fiction is still chief favourite among the different classes of
books issued, the number at West Hill being 35,697 out of the
total 51,577, and that at Allfarthing Lane, 26,727, out of 39,009.
Next comes Juvenile Literature, the issues being 7,277 and 6,616