View report page

235
High Street
(Temporary)
Library.
From the first there were signs of a large
demand for all kinds of literature, and very soon
the stock of books and the limited accommodation were
alike inadequate. This is forcibly evidenced by the fact
that 6,403 borrowers' tickets were issued in nine months
from the opening, and it is known that many persons have
refrained from using or taking out tickets so as to relieve
the pressure.
So great was the demand for books, particularly during
the winter months, that the number of volumes issued in a
single week sometimes nearly equalled half the stock. The
lending department was open 191 days, to March 21st,
1891. The total number of books issued for home reading
was 98,755, representing a daily average of 517.
TABLE.
Classification.
Stock,
June
1890.
Books
added.
Books
issued,
191 days.
A
Philosophy, Theology, Ecclesiastical
History
498
9
2,421
Daily average Issue, 517
B
General History, Biography
Correspondence
1,102
22
6,299
C
Travels, Geography, Antiquities
Topography
401
12
3,530
D
Arts, Sciences, Natural History
804
14
6,119
E
Law, Commerce, Education,
Sociology
200
9
940
F
Prose Fiction (including juvenile
literature)
3,099
172
75,130
G
Language, Poetry, Drama
310
3
1,853
H
Miscellaneous and Collected
Works
321
92
2,463
Total
6,735
333
98,755
Q