i 3 8 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



result in steady growth and an increased efficiency in this field. It is 

 equally certain, I think, that more efficient and widely extended state 

 inspection and advice to libraries are likely to be had in the near future. 

 Library legislation is tending to become more uniform in the several 

 states, and perhaps the enabling acts which now permit public libraries 

 to be supported by taxation may be exchanged for mandatory acts com- 

 pelling their establishment after the manner of public schools. The 

 greatest internal improvements which can be foreshadowed will prob- 

 ably be the growth of a scholarly spirit among librarians, and an in- 

 creased emphasis on bibliographical work. A large measure of 

 cooperation in the technical details of library administration and the 

 consequent cheapening of its cost may also confidently be expected. 

 Finally, it is entirely probable that the educational value of libraries 

 in the community will come to be greater both by reason of the con- 

 scious efforts of the librarians to increase their efficiency, and by the 

 recognition of those efforts on the part of the public whom they serve. 



