528 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



Report of the Committee on the Library. 



The most important feature of the year was the removal of the Library 

 from the Boston Atheuasum buiUling to the third story of the new build- 

 ing of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Although it was expected 

 that these quarters would be ready in April, 1899, it was six months later 

 before they could be occupied. The books, etc., were moved in good 

 order between October 17 and November 7, 1899, thanks to the careful 

 supervision of Dr. Holden, tlie Assistant Librai'ian. The opportunity 

 was taken to send to the binder many volumes which had accumulated 

 from previous years. The storage-room in the basement of the new 

 building could not be occupied until April, 1900, and during the first 

 week of that month the publications of the Academy, which had been 

 stored in the basement of the Athenaeum, were brought there. 



The accessions during the year have been as follows : — 



By gift and exchange 



By purchase — Geu'I Fund 



By purchase — Rumf Fund 



Total 456 2435 328 5 3224 



The total number compares with 3284 during the previous year. 



25 volumes and 593 parts of volumes were bought with the appropria- 

 tion from the income of the General Fund at an expense of $191.35. 

 155 parts of volumes were bought with an appropriation from the income 

 of the Ruraford Fund for $24.28. 



449 volumes were bound at an expense of $504.55, of which $487.00 

 was charged to the General Fund, and $17.05 to the Rumford Fund. 



202 books have been borrowed by twenty-five persons, including 

 eighteen Fellows of the Academy. 155 of these volumes were borrowed 

 between May and October, 1899, and only 47 between November, 1899, 

 and May, 1900. 22 volumes were not returned before May 2nd, in 

 accordance with the rule. It will be noticed that the use of the Libi-ary 

 has much diminished during the past six months. During the preceding 

 year 235 volumes were borrowed. 



Of the appropriation from the General Fund of $1500, $1161.77 has 

 been spent. This includes $479.74 for incidental expenses of the Assist- 

 ant Librarian, but does not include about $200 for subscriptions to peri- 

 odicals not yet paid and about $100 for books now in binders' hands. It 



