View report page

283
The withdrawal of a considerable number of worn-out volumes in
the fiction and juvenile departments has caused a further reduction
of stock at the Streatham Library. The number of worn-out books
which required replacement at the Tate Library at the end of the
financial year was 311.
After making the necessary deductions for transfers, replacements,
and discarded volumes the stock, at the 31st March, 1906, numbered
32,884 volumes, apportioned as follows:—
The Tate Library, Streatham 17,042
Balham Public Library 10,316
Tooting Public Library 5,526
Total 32,884
A classification of the stock is given on page 285.
At the annual stocktaking in July, only one volume, belonging
to the Balham Library, could not be accounted for.
The funds did not permit of the publication of a printed catalogue
during the past year, but the usual small hand lists of additions and
special lists showing the resources of the libraries on topics of
the day were issued at frequent intervals. The card catalogues are
always kept up to date, and readers find these a convenient means of
ascertaining the titles and numbers of the latest books added to the
lending departments.
Reading
Rooms.
The reading rooms are supplied with a comprehensive selection
of the principal newspapers and periodicals : 227 are
provided at the Tate Library, 152 at the Balham Library,
and 109 at the Tooting Library.
The large number of persons who frequent the rooms daily is an
indication of the usefulness and popularity of these departments.
The attendance on Sundays is also very good and has increased
during the past year.
A list of the papers provided at each library is appended. See
pages 289—294.