Page:A century of Birmingham life- or, A chronicle of local events, from 1741 to 1841 (IA centuryofbirming01lang).pdf/40

 Central Lending Library contains over 12,000 volumes; up to the end of 1866, 7,148 persons had qualified as borrowers the totalnumber of issues during the year was 164,120, or a daily average of 588.2. The Constitution Hill Library contains some 8,000 volumes, the total issue was 36,747, or daily average, 142. The Deritend Library contains over 5,000 volumes; in 1866 it was only open fifty-one days, and the total issue was 8,622, a daily average of 165. In the Adderley Park Branch there are between 2,000 and 3,000 books, the total issue was 9,383, or a daily average of about 26 volumes. This branch is only open after six o'clock in the evening; and the Gosta Green branch is not yet opened. The popularity of these institutions, and the interest which the people take in reading may be gathered from the fact that during 1866 the various libraries contained some 46,000 volumes, from which were issued the large number of 230,340, or a daily average of 1,133. The issues of 1867 will be very greatly in excess of this number. It should also be added that to each library is attached a news and reading room, and that the attendance throughout the day, especially at meal times and in the evening, is very large, the rooms being often inconveniently crowded. It will thus be seen that ample provision is made for the reading tastes of the inhabitants, and that they avail themselves of that provision in a most satisfactory and encouraging manner.

To these sources of popular education must be added the noble foundation of Edward VI., and its branch schools. The beneficial influence which these have had upon the town cannot be exaggerated, and they are still the most important of our educational institutions, reaching, as they do, almost all classes of society. The Queen's College, founded in 1843, has, in the past time, been of great service to the cause of education, and it is hoped that, under its new organisation, a brighter future awaits this much perplexed and long suffering institution.