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This forms a daily average, excluding Sunday and Juvenile
issues of 382, as against 428 in 1897. Of Adult Borrowers
(from 16 years of age and upward), there are now 3,214, representing
every class of the community. Of these, 359 also
hold Student's Tickets, by which an extra non-fictional work
can be withdrawn for home-reading.
Juvenile Room.—In April, 1898, the late Commissioners
adapted the basement of the Library as a Reading Room for
Boys and Girls and transferred to it the whole of the Juvenile
books from the Lending Department. The age limit at which
children could use the Library was reduced from twelve toeight
years of age, and the result was a very large addition to the
number of juveniles using the Department. Tickets to the
number of 2093, entitling the holders to use the Juvenile Reading
Room were issued, and there are also 982 tickets in use, which
enable books to be withdrawn from the Library for homereading.
Over 200 appropriate books are placed 011 open
shelves for the free use of the children and, in addition, a
selection of suitable magazines is provided. During the period
from April 12th, 1S98, to March 31st, 1899, 13,918 volumes
have been issued for home reading, besides which, it is estimated
that 43,000 visits have been made for the purpose of
reading books and magazines on the premises. The overcrowding,
which occurred when the Department was first
opened, gradually diminished as the novelty wore off, and
now the room is chiefly used by the more studious boys and
girls. The Committee desire to express their gratification at
the success of the experiment.
Sundays.—The Reading Room alone is open on Sundays
from 3 to 9 p.m., and the total attendance during the fifteen
months was 8,300, a daily average of 129; while the number
of books issued was 1,858; a daily average of 29, as
against an average of 161 and 40 respectively, in 1897.
Reading Rooms.—The News-room maintained its great
popularity during the period under review, and it is estimated
that 547,690 visits were made, a daily average of 1,430.
The attendance in this department and the limited space
available for the display of newspapers and periodicals, make
the necessity of securing increased accommodation somewhat