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Rh the fifty-four days after the first opening amounted to 212 volumes.

The Central Lending Library and News Room is on the first floor of the same building, and was opened in September, 1865. It contains 11,276 volumes, of which History, Biography, Voyages and Travels have 2,304. This is really a Drinking Fountain of Knowledge on a more liberal basis than those opened in large towns to quench the thirst of dry and dusty men with water. For in the latter case the ladle or basin is always chained to the fountain, and the drinker cannot carry any of the water home to his family. But at this Lending Library he may find a perpetual spring of pure and wholesome literature for himself, wife, and children and other inmates of his house, and that as cheap as air, after it is once set running. It is only the first step that costs him a little thought and effort. He must get one burgess or voter of the borough to sign the following voucher:

""I, the undersigned, being a burgess of the Borough of Birmingham, declare that I believe occupationageof No. to be a person to whom books may be safely intrusted for perusal; and I hereby undertake to replace, or pay the value of any book belonging to the Corporation of Birmingham, which shall be lost or materially injured by said borrower.""

This condition is not designed nor expected to diminish or restrict the use of the Library. It