Books and Borrowing 1750-1830

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Orkney Library

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Summary

During the period of study, of the books borrowed from their collections, Orkney Library featured 603 book holding records and these have been associated with 498 book edition records across 21 genres. Of the books borrowed from Orkney Library, these were written by 358 authors and had 265 borrowers. Of these, 211 (79.62%) were Male, 52 (19.62%) were Female, 2 (0.75%) were Unclear. The library documented 14495 borrowing events, 13273 (91.57%) by Male borrowers, 1207 (8.33%) by Female borrowers, 9 (0.06%) by Unclear borrowers. There were an average of 54.49 borrowings per borrower at this library and of the borrowed books, each book holding was borrowed an average of 24.04 times. At Orkney Library during the period of study, books were borrowed for 20 years between 1816 and 1835, with an average of 724.75 borrowings per year.

The most popular books

Overall

  1. Blackwood's Edinburgh magazine
    1171
  2. The Edinburgh Christian Instructor
    583
  3. The Edinburgh review, or, Critical journal.
    492
  4. Quarterly Review
    474
  5. The British Theatre; or, a Collection of plays ... acted at the Theatre Royal ... Printed ... from the prompt books. With biographical and critical remarks by Mrs. Inchbald.
    352
  6. The Edinburgh encyclopaedia
    285
  7. Edinburgh Magazine
    268
  8. The Works of William Robertson
    152
  9. The history of England from the invasion of Julius Caesar to the revolution in 1688
    158
  10. The British essayists
    129

By Male borrowers

  1. Blackwood's Edinburgh magazine
    1138
  2. The Edinburgh Christian Instructor
    577
  3. The Edinburgh review, or, Critical journal.
    478
  4. Quarterly Review
    464
  5. The British Theatre; or, a Collection of plays ... acted at the Theatre Royal ... Printed ... from the prompt books. With biographical and critical remarks by Mrs. Inchbald.
    297
  6. The Edinburgh encyclopaedia
    281
  7. Edinburgh Magazine
    252
  8. The Works of William Robertson
    141
  9. The history of England from the invasion of Julius Caesar to the revolution in 1688
    137
  10. The British essayists
    125

By Female borrowers

  1. The British Theatre; or, a Collection of plays ... acted at the Theatre Royal ... Printed ... from the prompt books. With biographical and critical remarks by Mrs. Inchbald.
    56
  2. Blackwood's Edinburgh magazine
    30
  3. The miscellaneous works: With memoirs of his life and writings [Smollett]
    22
  4. The history of England from the invasion of Julius Caesar to the revolution in 1688
    21
  5. Rhoda: a novel. [Frances Jacson]
    17
  6. Clan-Albin: a national tale [Johnstone]
    17
  7. Tales of my Landlord [First Series]
    17
  8. Edinburgh Magazine
    16
  9. The Edinburgh review, or, Critical journal.
    14
  10. The Antiquary. By the author of “Waverley” and “Guy Mannering” [i.e. Sir Walter Scott].
    14

The most popular authors

Overall

  1. Sir Walter Scott
    1821
  2. Mrs Elizabeth Inchbald
    352
  3. Tobias George Smollett
    271
  4. Maria Edgeworth
    258
  5. Washington Irving
    200
  6. Mary Brunton
    175
  7. David Hume
    171
  8. Christian Isobel Johnstone
    166
  9. William Robertson
    158
  10. Edward Gibbon
    136

By Male borrowers

  1. Sir Walter Scott
    1662
  2. Mrs Elizabeth Inchbald
    297
  3. Tobias George Smollett
    228
  4. Maria Edgeworth
    204
  5. Washington Irving
    189
  6. David Hume
    150
  7. William Robertson
    146
  8. Mary Brunton
    145
  9. Christian Isobel Johnstone
    137
  10. Edward Gibbon
    125

By Female borrowers

  1. Sir Walter Scott
    154
  2. Mrs Elizabeth Inchbald
    56
  3. Maria Edgeworth
    53
  4. Tobias George Smollett
    43
  5. Mary Brunton
    30
  6. Christian Isobel Johnstone
    29
  7. Sydney Owenson, Lady Morgan
    22
  8. David Hume
    21
  9. Amelia Alderson Opie
    17
  10. Frances Jacson
    17

The most popular genres

Overall

  1. Fiction
    4316
  2. Periodicals
    3243
  3. Travel
    1783
  4. History
    1325
  5. Lives
    1108
  6. Poetry
    798
  7. Belles Lettres
    458
  8. Theology
    425
  9. Drama
    409
  10. Practical Arts/Useful Knowledge
    404

By Male borrowers

  1. Fiction
    3703
  2. Periodicals
    3158
  3. Travel
    1628
  4. History
    1230
  5. Lives
    1018
  6. Poetry
    730
  7. Belles Lettres
    425
  8. Theology
    406
  9. Practical Arts/Useful Knowledge
    392
  10. Drama
    349

By Female borrowers

  1. Fiction
    605
  2. Travel
    156
  3. History
    94
  4. Lives
    89
  5. Periodicals
    78
  6. Poetry
    68
  7. Drama
    61
  8. Belles Lettres
    34
  9. Philosophy and Morality
    22
  10. Theology
    19

The most prolific borrowers

Overall

  1. Captain Malcolm Cowan
    1050
  2. Mr Fotheringhame
    609
  3. Dr Alexander Russell Duguid
    429
  4. Mr John Wallace
    419
  5. Mr James Drever
    415
  6. Mr William Watt Bain
    380
  7. Mr John Flett
    369
  8. Captain Shaw
    359
  9. Reverend Mr William Malcolm
    304
  10. Reverend Mr John Armit
    290

Male borrowers

  1. Captain Malcolm Cowan
    1050
  2. Mr Fotheringhame
    609
  3. Dr Alexander Russell Duguid
    429
  4. Mr John Wallace
    419
  5. Mr James Drever
    415
  6. Mr William Watt Bain
    380
  7. Mr John Flett
    369
  8. Captain Shaw
    359
  9. Reverend Mr William Malcolm
    304
  10. Reverend Mr John Armit
    290

Female borrowers

  1. Mrs Omond
    282
  2. Mrs Isabella Thuring
    224
  3. Miss Elizabeth Pollexfen
    138
  4. Mrs Cowan, of Papdale
    67
  5. Mrs Hudson
    45
  6. Mrs [J.] Erskine
    36
  7. Miss Watt
    32
  8. Miss Eliza [Elizabeth] Traill
    31
  9. Mrs Stewart
    27
  10. Miss McKenzie
    25

Borrower Occupations

Of the 266 borrowers at Orkney Library, 151 have at least one identified occupation. Borrowers may have any number of occupations and the total number of occupations associated with borrowers at this library is 190. In the visualisations, press on an occupation's segment to perform a search for its associated borrowing records.

A breakdown of borrower occupations present at this library

The percentage of borrowings made by each occupation

["Arts and Letters","Commerce, Trade, and Finance","Crafts, Artisans, and Manufacturing","Education","Independent Means","Law","Mariner","Medicine and Health","Military","Miscellaneous","Politics/Office Holders","Print and Book Trade","Religion and Clergy","Service Provision and Hospitality"]
[{"y":3.52, "drilldown": { "name": "Arts and Letters", "categories": ["Author","Librarian","Poet"], "data": [1.41,1.41,0.7]}},{"y":4.93, "drilldown": { "name": "Commerce, Trade, and Finance", "categories": ["Factor/Agent","Merchants/Traders"], "data": [1.41,3.52]}},{"y":3.52, "drilldown": { "name": "Crafts, Artisans, and Manufacturing", "categories": ["Mercer/Draper/Weaver","Retailer/Shopkeeper","Tailoring/Clothing/Apparel","Watchmaker","Wright"], "data": [0.7,0.7,0.7,0.7,0.7]}},{"y":2.82, "drilldown": { "name": "Education", "categories": ["School Master/Dominie","Teacher"], "data": [2.11,0.7]}},{"y":21.83, "drilldown": { "name": "Independent Means", "categories": ["Gentleman","Landowner/Landlord/Laird"], "data": [10.56,11.27]}},{"y":9.86, "drilldown": { "name": "Law", "categories": ["Advocate","Clerk of Session","Messenger-at-arms","Sheriff","Writer/Procurator"], "data": [3.52,0.7,0.7,1.41,3.52]}},{"y":3.52, "drilldown": { "name": "Mariner", "categories": ["Ships Captain","Ships Owner"], "data": [0.7,2.82]}},{"y":2.82, "drilldown": { "name": "Medicine and Health", "categories": ["Druggist/Chemist/Apothecary","Physician","Surgeon"], "data": [0.7,1.41,0.7]}},{"y":6.34, "drilldown": { "name": "Military", "categories": ["Army","Navy"], "data": [0.7,5.63]}},{"y":2.11, "drilldown": { "name": "Miscellaneous", "categories": ["Wife/Spouse"], "data": [2.11]}},{"y":9.86, "drilldown": { "name": "Politics/Office Holders", "categories": ["Clerks","Customs Collector","Lord Provost/Provost","MP (Britain)","Surveyor","Tax Collector"], "data": [0.7,2.82,1.41,1.41,2.11,1.41]}},{"y":1.41, "drilldown": { "name": "Print and Book Trade", "categories": ["Bookbinder","Booksellers"], "data": [0.7,0.7]}},{"y":24.65, "drilldown": { "name": "Religion and Clergy", "categories": ["Minister/Priest"], "data": [24.65]}},{"y":2.82, "drilldown": { "name": "Service Provision and Hospitality", "categories": ["Distiller","Grocer","Innkeeper/Tavernkeeper","Vintner"], "data": [0.7,0.7,0.7,0.7]}}]
[{"y":3.57, "drilldown": { "name": "Arts and Letters", "categories": ["Author","Librarian","Poet"], "data": [1.87,1.34,0.36]}},{"y":3.81, "drilldown": { "name": "Commerce, Trade, and Finance", "categories": ["Factor/Agent","Merchants/Traders"], "data": [0.35,3.46]}},{"y":1.12, "drilldown": { "name": "Crafts, Artisans, and Manufacturing", "categories": ["Mercer/Draper/Weaver","Retailer/Shopkeeper","Tailoring/Clothing/Apparel","Watchmaker","Wright"], "data": [0.39,0.06,0.21,0.46,0.01]}},{"y":1.82, "drilldown": { "name": "Education", "categories": ["School Master/Dominie","Teacher"], "data": [1.68,0.13]}},{"y":27.38, "drilldown": { "name": "Independent Means", "categories": ["Gentleman","Landowner/Landlord/Laird"], "data": [18.71,8.67]}},{"y":9.46, "drilldown": { "name": "Law", "categories": ["Advocate","Clerk of Session","Messenger-at-arms","Sheriff","Writer/Procurator"], "data": [2.99,0.11,0.11,1.86,4.39]}},{"y":1.86, "drilldown": { "name": "Mariner", "categories": ["Ships Captain","Ships Owner"], "data": [0.01,1.86]}},{"y":5.33, "drilldown": { "name": "Medicine and Health", "categories": ["Druggist/Chemist/Apothecary","Physician","Surgeon"], "data": [0.12,3.32,1.89]}},{"y":12.26, "drilldown": { "name": "Military", "categories": ["Army","Navy"], "data": [0.36,11.9]}},{"y":0.17, "drilldown": { "name": "Miscellaneous", "categories": ["Wife/Spouse"], "data": [0.17]}},{"y":7.13, "drilldown": { "name": "Politics/Office Holders", "categories": ["Clerks","Customs Collector","Lord Provost/Provost","MP (Britain)","Surveyor","Tax Collector"], "data": [1.73,1.65,0.59,0.1,1.6,1.46]}},{"y":1.73, "drilldown": { "name": "Print and Book Trade", "categories": ["Bookbinder","Booksellers"], "data": [0.87,0.87]}},{"y":23.24, "drilldown": { "name": "Religion and Clergy", "categories": ["Minister/Priest"], "data": [23.24]}},{"y":1.11, "drilldown": { "name": "Service Provision and Hospitality", "categories": ["Distiller","Grocer","Innkeeper/Tavernkeeper","Vintner"], "data": [0.35,0.75,0.01,0.01]}}]

Book Genre

A a book holding may have multiple genres and 618 genre classifications have been applied to 603 book holding records at Orkney Library. The first visualisation shows the total number of book holdings we have catalogued from the library (we have only catalogued books that are actually borrowed, not the entire collection), divided into sections for genre, while the second visualisation shows the total number of borrowing acts we have catalogued, divided into sections for the genre of the associated book. The comparison between the two shows the relative popularity of genres. If all genres were borrowed equally then the two visualisations for a library would be the same. What is interesting is when the visualisations differ, as this shows where a particular genre is more (or less) popular than another. In the visualisations, press on a genre's segment to perform a search for its associated borrowing records.

A breakdown of book genres borrowed at this library

The percentage of borrowings of each genre

A breakdown of book genres borrowed at this library

The percentage of borrowings of each genre

[{"name": "Fiction", "y": 18.45, "gid": 1},{"name": "Periodicals", "y": 3.88, "gid": 15},{"name": "Travel", "y": 10.84, "gid": 10},{"name": "History", "y": 10.68, "gid": 13},{"name": "Lives", "y": 10.84, "gid": 19},{"name": "Poetry", "y": 8.41, "gid": 14},{"name": "Belles Lettres", "y": 4.05, "gid": 12},{"name": "Theology", "y": 14.56, "gid": 5},{"name": "Drama", "y": 1.13, "gid": 18},{"name": "Practical Arts/Useful Knowledge", "y": 1.94, "gid": 6},{"name": "Politics, Society and Political Economy", "y": 4.69, "gid": 17},{"name": "Philosophy and Morality", "y": 2.91, "gid": 2},{"name": "Sermons", "y": 1.46, "gid": 3},{"name": "Law", "y": 1.46, "gid": 8},{"name": "Education", "y": 0.97, "gid": 4},{"name": "Mathematics", "y": 0.16, "gid": 7},{"name": "Natural Philosophy", "y": 0.81, "gid": 9},{"name": "Reference Works", "y": 1.94, "gid": 20},{"name": "Miscellaneous/Other", "y": 0.32, "gid": 23},{"name": "Fine Arts", "y": 0.16, "gid": 11},{"name": "Medicine", "y": 0.32, "gid": 16}]
[{"id": "A", "name": "Library books"},{"name": "Fiction", "parent": "A", "value": 18.45, "gid": 1},{"name": "Periodicals", "parent": "A", "value": 3.88, "gid": 15},{"name": "Travel", "parent": "A", "value": 10.84, "gid": 10},{"name": "History", "parent": "A", "value": 10.68, "gid": 13},{"name": "Lives", "parent": "A", "value": 10.84, "gid": 19},{"name": "Poetry", "parent": "A", "value": 8.41, "gid": 14},{"name": "Belles Lettres", "parent": "A", "value": 4.05, "gid": 12},{"name": "Theology", "parent": "A", "value": 14.56, "gid": 5},{"name": "Drama", "parent": "A", "value": 1.13, "gid": 18},{"name": "Practical Arts/Useful Knowledge", "parent": "A", "value": 1.94, "gid": 6},{"name": "Politics, Society and Political Economy", "parent": "A", "value": 4.69, "gid": 17},{"name": "Philosophy and Morality", "parent": "A", "value": 2.91, "gid": 2},{"name": "Sermons", "parent": "A", "value": 1.46, "gid": 3},{"name": "Law", "parent": "A", "value": 1.46, "gid": 8},{"name": "Education", "parent": "A", "value": 0.97, "gid": 4},{"name": "Mathematics", "parent": "A", "value": 0.16, "gid": 7},{"name": "Natural Philosophy", "parent": "A", "value": 0.81, "gid": 9},{"name": "Reference Works", "parent": "A", "value": 1.94, "gid": 20},{"name": "Miscellaneous/Other", "parent": "A", "value": 0.32, "gid": 23},{"name": "Fine Arts", "parent": "A", "value": 0.16, "gid": 11},{"name": "Medicine", "parent": "A", "value": 0.32, "gid": 16}]
[{"name": "Fiction", "y": 28.39, "gid": 1},{"name": "Periodicals", "y": 21.34, "gid": 15},{"name": "Travel", "y": 11.73, "gid": 10},{"name": "History", "y": 8.72, "gid": 13},{"name": "Lives", "y": 7.29, "gid": 19},{"name": "Poetry", "y": 5.25, "gid": 14},{"name": "Belles Lettres", "y": 3.01, "gid": 12},{"name": "Theology", "y": 2.8, "gid": 5},{"name": "Drama", "y": 2.69, "gid": 18},{"name": "Practical Arts/Useful Knowledge", "y": 2.66, "gid": 6},{"name": "Politics, Society and Political Economy", "y": 2.25, "gid": 17},{"name": "Philosophy and Morality", "y": 1.56, "gid": 2},{"name": "Sermons", "y": 0.69, "gid": 3},{"name": "Law", "y": 0.49, "gid": 8},{"name": "Education", "y": 0.32, "gid": 4},{"name": "Mathematics", "y": 0.27, "gid": 7},{"name": "Natural Philosophy", "y": 0.24, "gid": 9},{"name": "Reference Works", "y": 0.2, "gid": 20},{"name": "Miscellaneous/Other", "y": 0.07, "gid": 23},{"name": "Fine Arts", "y": 0.03, "gid": 11},{"name": "Medicine", "y": 0.01, "gid": 16}]
[{"id": "A", "name": "Library borrowings"},{"name": "Fiction", "parent": "A", "value": 28.39, "gid": 1},{"name": "Periodicals", "parent": "A", "value": 21.34, "gid": 15},{"name": "Travel", "parent": "A", "value": 11.73, "gid": 10},{"name": "History", "parent": "A", "value": 8.72, "gid": 13},{"name": "Lives", "parent": "A", "value": 7.29, "gid": 19},{"name": "Poetry", "parent": "A", "value": 5.25, "gid": 14},{"name": "Belles Lettres", "parent": "A", "value": 3.01, "gid": 12},{"name": "Theology", "parent": "A", "value": 2.8, "gid": 5},{"name": "Drama", "parent": "A", "value": 2.69, "gid": 18},{"name": "Practical Arts/Useful Knowledge", "parent": "A", "value": 2.66, "gid": 6},{"name": "Politics, Society and Political Economy", "parent": "A", "value": 2.25, "gid": 17},{"name": "Philosophy and Morality", "parent": "A", "value": 1.56, "gid": 2},{"name": "Sermons", "parent": "A", "value": 0.69, "gid": 3},{"name": "Law", "parent": "A", "value": 0.49, "gid": 8},{"name": "Education", "parent": "A", "value": 0.32, "gid": 4},{"name": "Mathematics", "parent": "A", "value": 0.27, "gid": 7},{"name": "Natural Philosophy", "parent": "A", "value": 0.24, "gid": 9},{"name": "Reference Works", "parent": "A", "value": 0.2, "gid": 20},{"name": "Miscellaneous/Other", "parent": "A", "value": 0.07, "gid": 23},{"name": "Fine Arts", "parent": "A", "value": 0.03, "gid": 11},{"name": "Medicine", "parent": "A", "value": 0.01, "gid": 16}]

Borrowings through time by occupation type

Borrowings at this library during the period, divided into sections for occupation types. Press on a year bar to zoom in on its borrowings, divided into months.

[1816,1817,1818,1819,1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835]
[{"name":"Arts and Letters","data":[8,25,33,55,39,44,22,88,24,1,0,0,0,0,11,2,18,28,48,16]},{"name":"Commerce, Trade, and Finance","data":[9,29,30,16,12,42,77,99,19,0,1,3,0,0,23,35,23,29,27,19]},{"name":"Crafts, Artisans, and Manufacturing","data":[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,6,50,36,5,27,12,8]},{"name":"Education","data":[0,2,0,0,0,15,43,49,2,2,2,2,0,1,39,2,3,45,13,15]},{"name":"Independent Means","data":[119,225,215,253,256,292,216,242,105,8,11,16,11,14,355,403,369,188,136,109]},{"name":"Law","data":[68,120,83,64,67,87,56,89,34,3,10,6,9,17,120,81,124,79,72,35]},{"name":"Mariner","data":[13,19,27,18,4,0,4,1,0,0,1,3,0,1,24,50,25,25,23,3]},{"name":"Medicine and Health","data":[12,26,23,15,32,45,64,57,6,3,14,3,6,8,52,41,92,74,46,70]},{"name":"Military","data":[19,63,114,104,122,169,81,104,66,5,7,11,7,13,168,196,192,83,33,29]},{"name":"Miscellaneous","data":[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,7,0,0,0,0,1,8,1,0,0,0,5,0]},{"name":"Politics/Office Holders","data":[74,139,60,119,106,96,91,115,35,3,2,1,0,3,25,6,21,16,11,0]},{"name":"Print and Book Trade","data":[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,10,4,26,56,96,32]},{"name":"Religion and Clergy","data":[110,254,215,196,210,171,207,220,80,9,26,18,14,19,262,268,273,198,161,95]},{"name":"Service Provision and Hospitality","data":[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,27,2,0,42,73,0]}]

Borrowings through time by book genre

Borrowings at this library during the period, divided into sections for book genre. Press on a year bar to zoom in on its borrowings, divided into months.

[1816,1817,1818,1819,1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835]
[{"name":"Belles Lettres","data":[16,46,28,44,20,46,47,39,14,0,0,0,0,1,51,32,12,22,25,15]},{"name":"Drama","data":[24,81,32,22,44,43,11,40,4,0,0,0,0,0,31,41,15,11,1,9]},{"name":"Education","data":[0,1,7,2,4,2,4,3,0,0,0,0,0,0,5,16,2,2,0,0]},{"name":"Fiction","data":[172,351,288,227,299,377,269,283,108,6,17,19,16,26,392,377,329,360,248,152]},{"name":"Fine Arts","data":[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,2,1,0,1,0,0,0]},{"name":"History","data":[41,128,78,69,114,129,73,72,15,0,0,0,1,5,140,170,112,52,62,32]},{"name":"Law","data":[2,9,5,1,1,5,8,3,4,0,0,0,0,0,4,9,13,5,2,4]},{"name":"Lives","data":[35,117,66,60,57,76,55,43,17,0,0,2,2,1,191,132,109,64,50,27]},{"name":"Mathematics","data":[0,0,0,16,5,0,9,7,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,1,1,0,0]},{"name":"Medicine","data":[0,0,0,1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]},{"name":"Miscellaneous/Other","data":[0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,6,3,0,0]},{"name":"Natural Philosophy","data":[2,2,6,4,2,2,3,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,3,1,8,3,0,0]},{"name":"Periodicals","data":[21,86,165,188,134,112,210,267,64,18,45,31,27,54,382,360,391,285,269,132]},{"name":"Philosophy and Morality","data":[18,31,24,34,20,12,11,15,5,0,0,0,0,0,17,19,14,8,8,1]},{"name":"Poetry","data":[33,99,61,64,81,109,62,55,19,1,0,1,1,1,80,43,23,23,25,19]},{"name":"Politics, Society and Political Economy","data":[13,38,26,36,23,32,51,26,6,0,0,0,0,0,25,22,10,17,9,8]},{"name":"Practical Arts/Useful Knowledge","data":[8,25,13,4,54,61,56,63,10,1,2,2,1,0,32,23,14,20,10,5]},{"name":"Reference Works","data":[0,2,1,5,0,5,0,2,0,0,0,0,0,0,2,2,2,7,2,0]},{"name":"Sermons","data":[1,13,15,6,4,11,4,3,1,0,0,0,0,0,17,11,8,3,3,5]},{"name":"Theology","data":[20,54,41,16,25,32,14,12,8,0,1,0,0,1,28,41,56,24,36,16]},{"name":"Travel","data":[72,147,163,100,142,149,160,105,41,0,1,3,1,2,73,82,258,155,85,45]}]

Book holding frequency of borrowing

Select one or more books to plot their frequency of borrowing over time. Start typing the name of a book to begin. Once selected you can repeat this process for as many books as required. To search for all records relating to a book press on its name in the section above the chart. To remove a selected book press on the icon beside its name.

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