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82 serves to impress upon every would-be reader the conviction that the privilege is worth a little personal thought and effort on his part. No burgess would refuse to sign such a voucher for any honest applicant. Up to the end of 1866, 7,148 persons had been qualified as borrowers. During that year 164,120 books were lent out to the people of the town, making an average daily issue of 588. In the same department is the News Room, in which is spread out to all who would read nearly all the leading journals and periodicals of the kingdom. As it was intended, the working men of the town constitute perhaps the largest number of callers. An interesting fact will show how eagerly they use and enjoy the privilege. They are allowed an hour for dinner, and a large number employed within an accessible distance from the Library spend in it half the time allotted to the meal; thus making twenty or thirty minutes' reading a portion or condiment of their mid-day repast.

Liberal provision has also been made for remote districts of the town, and several branch libraries have been opened on the same basis. In addition to these free sources of knowledge and mental entertainment, there are many other libraries established, where books may be had on easy terms. One of these. The Old Library, in Union Street, was founded under the direction of Dr.