, being of a local
character and purchased with fines imposed for detaining books beyond
the time allowed for reading.
"The number of borrowers in 1877 was 1,540, whereas the number in
1887 was 3,550; the number of issues of books in the same period
increasing from 27,000 to 77,000--about 10,000 of the population of
the city over 14 years of age having taken advantage of the boon
afforded by this department."
The report draws attention to an increase in the hours of the lending
library, which hitherto had been 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., to 11
a.m. till 9 p.m. every week-day except Thursday.
The establishment of a juvenile department as a means of stimulating
interest in the Library was one of the first suggestions made by Mr.
Easter after his appointment, and although the Committee did not
entertain it then he did not abandon it, and the subject was raised in
the press and in Committee in 1885. As a result the Mayor, Mr. John
Gurney, who was keenly interested in the proposal, offered to give 100
pounds on condition that an additional 150 pounds was raised, but he died
before the establishment of the scheme.
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