LURGAN FREE LIBRARY: William White, Hon. Sec. Opened 1895. Annual income from penny rate £90, allowing £25 for purchase of books. Open on weekdays only from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. A Museum in connection.

NENAGH (Tipperary) PUBLIC LIBRARY, Town Hall: Frank R. Maloney, Librarian. Opened 1897. Contains 1,100 volumes. Supported by rate. Collection of Public Records. Open on week-days from 2 to 4 p.m.

NEWRY.-FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, Minor Town Hall: Edith Armour, Librarian. Opened 1897. 5,500 volumes. Annual income from rate £124, about £40 being expended in books. Special collections: Irish Parliamentary Statutes, 1759-94; Irish Newspapers, 1790-1853. Open on week-days only from 11 to 12

and 7 to 9.

Library not yet organised.

NEWTOWNARDS (Co. Down): Acts adopted 1895. RATHMINES AND RATHGAR PUBLIC LIBRARY, Rathmines (Co. Dublin): John J. Loton, Librarian. Est. 1887. Number of volumes, 5,000. Supported by rate of three farthings in the pound. Open on week-days from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. SLIGO FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY: David Saultry, Librarian. Est. 1880. Reference Library of 1,000 volumes. No Lending Department. Open on week-days from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays 2 to 7 p.m.

WATERFORD PUBLIC FREE LIBRARY, Adelphi terrace: John J. Morrin, Librarian. Opened 1897. Contains 3,000 volumes: annual circulation 16,000. Income from penny rate £200, allowing £40 annually for purchase of books. Open on week-days only from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays 1 to 6 p.m. A Museum is being formed in connection.

SCOTLAND.

ABERDEEN FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY: Alex. W. Robertson, M.A., Librarian. Established 1884. Number of volumes in Lending Department, 24,000; Reference Department, 22,000; annual circulation, 268,105. The library rate produces £2,184 per annum, about £600 of this being expended in books. Reading Room open on week-days from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

AIRDRIE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY: John Gardiner, Librarian. Est. 1856. Number of volumes, 10,500; annual circulation, 46,709. Annual income from public rate £249, about £30 being expended in books. Open on week-days from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. There is a Museum in connection with the Library, and a good Observatory with Telescope.

ALLOA PUBLIC LIBRARY, Marr's Hill: John Simpson, Librarian. Est. 1889. 8,300 volumes and a Boys' Library of 900 volumes. Annual income from penny rate £297, affording £25 for the purchase of literature. Open every week-day. ARBROATH PUBLIC LIBRARY, Hill terrace: Jas. Craigie, Librarian. Opened 1898. Number of volumes in Lending Department, 14,000; Reference Department, 5,000. Supported by penny library rate realising £330 per annum. Open on weekdays only. The library buildings have been presented to the town by David Corsar, Esq., of The Elms, Arbroath. The books (about 1,500 volumes) belonging to the Arbroath Subscription Library, established in 1797, were handed over by the shareholders to the Public Library Committee. The Committee are also in receipt of a donation of £1,000 from Andrew Carnegie, Esq., of Pittsburg.

AYR.-Carnegie Public Library G. B. Phillips, Librarian.

:

Est. 1893. Number of volumes, 17,500. Annual income from penny rate, £500, about £100 being available for purchase of books. Open on week-days from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mr. Carnegie gave £10,000 to the library, and a splendid building has been erected. BRECHIN PUBLIC LIBRARY, St. Ninian square: John S. McAlley, Librarian. About 8,000 volumes. Annual income from rate and endowment about £170.

CRIEFF.-Taylor's Trust Free Library and Reading Room, Mason's Hall, Comrie street: John McDiarmid, Librarian. Opened 1890. 4,470 volumes; annual circulation 22,000. About £60 annually is expended in books. Collection of Local works. Open on week-days from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

DRUMOAK (Aberdeenshire) PUBLIC LIBRARY: James Burnett, Librarian. Opened 1894. Rate supported. Open on Tuesdays only from 7 to 9 p.m.

Est.

DUMBARTON FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY: Archd. Macdonald, Librarian. 1881. Number of volumes, 5,600; annual circulation, 19,000. Annual income from penny rate £230, about £30 being spent in books. Open every week-day from 10 to 2, and from 5 to 10. DUNDEE.-The Albert Institute Free Library, Museum, and Art Gallery : John Maclauchlan, Chief Librarian, Curator, and Secretary. Est. 1869. Number of volumes in Lending Department, 46,247; Reference Department, 20,901; Branch Library, 5,400; annual circulation, 294,554. Annual income from penny rate, £3018, about £871 of which is expended in books. The Library possesses a large collection of Old Scotch Music, including some unique editions. Open on week-days from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Thursday, closes at 2. Art Department: A very large and fine collection of reproductions of Ancient Art-Sculpture, Metal, &c. Natural History Department: A large collection representing the Arctic Fauna. A large collection of modern Pictures by distinguished artists, acquired free, mostly as gifts from members of the Committee. There is also in a new suite of handsome Galleries, an annual exhibition (picture month) of contemporary Art. One year the sales were £8,700, and the average sales per annum are over £5,000.

Annual

DUNFERMLINE.-Carnegie Free Library, Abbot street: Alexander Peebles, Librarian. Est. 1883. Number of volumes in Lending Department, 12,817; Reference Department, 2,770; Boys' Library, 1,000; annual circulation, 12,817. income £360 from penny rate, assisted by Andrew Carnegie, Esq., £80 being expended in books. Open on week-days from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 6 to 9 p.m. Closes on Wednesdays at 2 p.m.

EDINBURGH PUBLIC LIBRARY, George IV. Bridge: Hew Morrison, Librarian. Opened 1890. Number of volumes in Lending Department, 55,727; Reference Department, 41,105; Boys' Library, 7,000; two Branch Libraries, 11,169; annual circulation, 644,600. Annual income from rates £8,000, affording £2,500 for purchase of books. Open on week-days only from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

ELGIN PUBLIC LIBRARY, Town Hall Miss Isabella Mitchell, Librarian. Opened 1892. Number of volumes, 6,100; annual circulation, 44,000. Annual income from rates £150. Desiderata: Local Books, and Ancient and Modern Classics. Open on week-days only from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Opened 1896.

The penny rate pro

FALKIRK PUBLIC LIBRARY: George Chapman, Librarian. Contains 6,540 volumes, with an annual circulation of 22,000. duces about £280 per annum. Open on week-days only. FORFAR FREE LIBRARY: Miss M. Milne, Librarian. Est. 1870. Number of volumes, 12,500; annual issue, 20,000. About £150 is raised by the penny rate, £50 of which is expended in books. Open on week-days from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. GALASHIELS FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.-Opened 1874. About 8,000 volumes. Supported by penny rate.

GLASGOW.-Baillie's Institution Free Library, 48, Miller street: William Simpson, Librarian. Founded by the late Mr. George Baillie in 1863, and opened in 1887. Is a Reference Library only, containing 15,000 vols.; annual issue 60,000. Annual income from endowment, about £1,300, about £300 being spent in books, binding, &c. Open on week-days from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

GLASGOW.—Stirling's & Glasgow Public Library, 48, Miller-st.: W. J. S. Paterson, Librarian. Est. 1791. Over 50,000 vols.; annual circulation, 139,879. Annual income from subscriptions and rents £935, affording £220 for the purchase of books. Possesses a full set of the publications of the Patent Office from 1617 to date; also a full set of the Trade Marks Journal. Reference Department free to all. Lending Department to subscribers only. Open week-days 10 to 10. GLASGOW.-The Mitchell Library, 21, Miller street: F. T. Barrett, Librarian. Opened 1877. 125,000 volumes for Reference only; annual circulation, about 500,000. Supported by Trust Fund, supplemented by grants from Town Council, and producing £3,300 per annum, of this £1,000 is available for purchase of books, periodicals, and binding. Special collections: Glasgow books, early Glasgow Printing, Burns, Scottish Poetry generally, Covenanting. No Newsroom. The largest library in Scotland to which the general public have a right to free access. Over 2,000 readers daily. The Public Libraries' Act has not yet been adopted.

GRANGEMOUTH.-Victoria Public Library, Boness road: William C. Dibbs, Librarian. Opened 1889. About 2,800 volumes; annual circulation, 12,000. Annual income from rates £230, about £40 being available for purchase of books. Open from 7 to 9 p.m. daily, Sundays excepted.

HAWICK PUBLIC LIBRARY: George S. S. McNairn, Librarian.

Est. 1879. 10,000 volumes; annual income from penny rate £270. Open on week-days only. INVERNESS PUBLIC LIBRARY AND READING ROOM, Castle Wynd: S. F. Donaldson, Librarian. Est. 1883. Number of volumes, 8,500; annual circulation, 22,000. Annual income from rate £340, affording about £97 for the purchase of books. Open from 1 to 3 p.m., and 7 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, 3 to 7 p.m. In connection is a Museum of Antiquarian and Geological specimens.

JEDBURGH PUBLIC LIBRARY, High street: John Rutherford, Librarian. Opened 1894. Number of volumes 3,814. Annual income from rates and investments £70, of which £15 is expended in books. Open on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 6 to 8; Saturday, from 2 to 5 p.m.

KILMARNOCK FREE LIBRARY, Elmbank, London road: H. Y. Simpson, Librarian. Opened 1895. Number of volumes, 15,474; annual circulation, 63,057. Annual income from rate and bequest £494 10s., affording £90 for purchase of books. Open on week-days from 12 to 9 p.m

KIRKWALL FREE LIBRARY, Municipal Buildings: I. Sommerville, Librarian. Est. 1890. About 4,000 volumes. Annual income from rate and investments £65. Open on week-days.

NEWBURGH (Fifeshire).—Laing Institute and Free Library, High street. PAISLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY AND MUSEUM, High street: John Renfrew, Librarian. Opened 1871 Number of volumes in Lending Department, 19,000; Reference Department, 10,000; annual circulation, 72,000. Annual income from penny rate £1,172, about £170 being available for the purchase of books. Open on week-days only from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

PERTH.-Sandeman Public Library: John Minto, M.A., Librarian. ported by endowment and rates.

PETERHEAD FREE LIBRARY: D. Scott, Librarian.

Sup

SELKIRK PUBLIC LIBRARY, Ettrick terrace: Mrs. Agnes Scott, Librarian. Est 1889. Number of volumes, 5,274; annual issue, 13,168. The penny rate realises £105, about £20 being spent in books. Open on week-days only.

STIRLING.-MacFarlane Free Library and Museum, Smith Institute, Dumbarton road: James Sword, Librarian.

TARVES FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY: John Young, Librarian.

Act adopted

1883. One Branch Library. Number of volumes, 3,700. The library rate produces £30, about £20 of this being spent in books. Tarves is a purely rural parish, the population being only about 2,400.

THURSO FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, Town Hall: Henry Manson, Librarian. Est. 1872. About 6,000 volumes; annual issue, 13,762. Annual income from penny rate, £42, allowing £10 for purchase of books. Open on week-days only. A Museum in connection contains Robert Dick's Botanical collection and some Antiquarian remains.

WICK PARISH FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, Union street: Geo. Bain, Librarian. Est. 1887. Number of volumes in Lending Department, 6,240; Reference Department, 1,560; annual circulation, 23,700. The penny rate produces £180, about £30 being annually expended in books. Open on week-days from 10 to 4, and from 6 to 8. New library premises have been erected at a cost of £5,000, Mr. Andrew Carnegie being the principal donor. This library occupies a peculiar position as the area of assessment embraces the Royal Burgh of Wick, the Pulteney Town Commission, and the Landward portion of the parish of Wick. A Museum and Art Gallery is in course of formation.

The Public Libraries' Acts were adopted at Campbeltown (Argyleshire), 1896; Kirkcaldy, 1895; Kirkmichael (Banffshire), 1895.

No returns from these places.

WALES.

ABERYSTWYTH PUBLIC LIBRARY: Mary A. Jenkins, Librarian.

Est. 1872.

Number of volumes, 3,539; annual issue, 23,000. Annual income from penny rate £100. Open on week-days from 10 a.m. to 1, and from 6 to 9 p.m.

BANGOR.-Jones Free Museum and Library, High street: Peter Williams, Librarian. Est. 1871. 1,600 volumes; annual circulation, 2,157. days from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Open on weekBARRY AND CADOXTON (near Cardiff) PUBLIC LIBRARY, Holton road, Barry: J. M. Davies, Librarian. Est. 1892. Number of volumes, 3,074; annual circulation, 18,962. Annual income from penny rate £517, about £150 being available for the purchase of books. Open every week-day.

The

BLAENAU FESTINIOG (Merionethshire).—Free Public Library. CARDIFF FREE LIBRARIES, Trinity street: John Ballinger, Librarian. Opened 1862. Number of volumes in Central Lending Department and six Branch Libraries, 27,500; Boys' Library, 2,000 volumes; annual circulation, 260,600. Reference Department contains 33,000 Printed Books and MSS. Annual income from penny rate £4,000, affording £800 for the purchase of books. Collections: Printed Books and MSS. in Welsh and relating to Wales, Local Topographical Prints and Photographs; also Works on Iron and Steel, Mining, Shipping, and Engineering. Desiderata: Books and MSS. in Welsh or relating to Wales. Open on week-days from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The special feature of the Reference Library is the collection of nearly 2,000 Manuscripts relating to Wales, including the Welsh portion of the MSS. collected by the late Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart. CARNARVON FREE LIBRARY: Mrs. G. K. A. Thomas, Librarian. Est. 1887. Number of volumes, 2,050. Lending Department opened December 1st, 1892. Annual income from penny rate £110, about £50 being expended in books and newspapers. Open on week-days only from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

CORWEN (Merionethshire) PUBLIC LIBRARY, Market Buildings: Thos. Warburton, Librarian. Sustained by library rate. Open on week-days only from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Library not yet in operation. Opened 1896.

HALKIN (Flintshive): Acts adopted 1896.
HOLYHEAD: Mair Griffiths, Librarian.
NEWPORT (Mon.): James Matthews, Librarian. Opened 1871. The
Lending Library contains over 21,000 volumes, and the Reference Library 15,000.
PENARTH FREE LIBRARY, Areot street: Miss K. E. Jones, Librarian.
Opened 1896. About 2,200 volumes. Annual income from rate £300, affording £160
for purchase of books. Open on week-days only from 6 to 9 p.m.
PONTYPRIDD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY: Geo. Hughes, Librarian.

Est. 1887. 3,150 volumes; annual circulation, 12,000. Annual income from penny rate £350. Open on week-days from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. A Museum is in contemplation. SWANSEA PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ART GALLERY, Alexander road: S. E. Thompson, Librarian. Opened 1875. Number of volumes in Central Lending and four Branch Libraries, 13,000; Reference Department, 24,500; Boys' Library, 750; annual circulation, 199,336. Income derived from library rate, and an additional penny under Local Act, £2,235, affording £200 annually for the purchase of books. The library is rich in Welsh and Local Literature (about 3,000 volumes). Open on week-days from 9 a.m. to 9-30 p.m. The Art Gallery has a collection of 2,500 Drawings and Engravings presented by Mr. J. Deffett Francis. The Art School, in connection, with its splendid collection of casts, is considered one of the most complete in the kingdom."

WELSHPOOL FREE LIBRARY, Church Bank, Salop road: C. H. Jones, Librarian. Number of volumes, 6,000; annual circulation 12,000. Annual income from halfpenny rate £82, affording £20 for the purchase of books. Open every week-day.

WREXHAM FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, Chester street: Richard Gough, Librarian. Opened 1879. Number of volumes, 5,872; annual circulation, 28,000. Annual income from penny rate and subscriptions £287, allowing about £50 for purchase of books. Open on week-days only from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.