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SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
of the
COMMISSIONERS for PUBLIC LIBRARIES and MUSEUMS
FOR THE PARISH OF SAINT LEONARD, SHOREDITCH.
For the Year 1892-93.
The Commissioners have great pleasure in submitting the following report of
their second year's work in carrying out the Public Libraries' Act in this parish.
A detailed account of the purchase of the buildings and site having been given
in last year's report, it will only be necessary to state here in reverting to the
negotiations then carried on that the borrowing of three sums, amounting in the
aggregate to £-5,000, was sanctioned by the Local Government Board, and the
loans obtained from the Prudential Assurance Company, at 3| per cent, per
annum on the annuity principle, on the 12th April, 1892, and conveyance of the
premises completed on the same date and possession obtained.
As will be seen from the financial statement at the end of this report, the
whole of the loans have been expended on the purposes for which they were
sanctioned.
The repairs and alterations of the premises were entrusted to Mr. J. Ivory of
Great Cambridge Street, N.E., and the heating and lighting to Messrs. Strode
and Co., Osnaburgh Street, N.W., according to the plans and specification
prepared by Mr. Richard J. Lovell, Architect, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., under
whose supervision the work was carried out.
The alterations were practically completed in September, the Commissioners
holding their first meeting in the Library on the 12th of the same month, and Mr.
J. Betteridge was appointed caretaker.
400 applications were received for the post of sub-librarian, and 14 of the
caudidates were selected for interview by the Commissioners, who resolved to
appoint Mr. J. F. Summers of the Marylebone Free Library, whose death the
Commissioners regret to record took place on 19th October, after a very brief
illness, and within two months of the date of his appointment. The Commissioners