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STEPNEY BOROUGH COUNCIL INFORMATION SERVICE.
This, the second full year's work of the Information
Centre, situated at 671a Commercial Road, E.14, has seen the
Service grow from strength to strength. It has now become
firmly established in the minds of the citizens of the borough
who do not hesitate to make full use of its service, resulting
in an ever growing demand for information and assistance
with personal problems. These latter form a very large part
of the enquiries dealt with at the Centre and because of the
manner in which they are dealt with, members of the public
grow more confiding and appreciative of the real attempt
being made to help them in their difficulties.
The past year has seen the number of enquiries reach a
total of 11,233, this being an increase of 1,417 over the
previous year. Again the field covered by the enquiries was
very extensive and those enquiries relating to the Social
Services once more formed a large proportion of the whole.
With the coming into operation of part of the Legal Aid
and Advice Act, in October 1950, the Information Service was
instrumental in obtaining Legal Aid Certificates for a number
of applicants with mainly marital problems and these, in a
borough like Stepney with such a cosmopolitan character, are
quite numerous.
Another notable feature of the Information Service is
the number of calls made upon it by local firms and organisations
for information both of a civic and general nature, and
as a result of the prompt attention to these calls, more and
more are being received at the Centre.
This Service is under the direction of the Borough
Librarian, who has kindly supplied me with the above
Information.
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