308 ANNUAL llEPOKT. 



U.S. TAS. 



need of the Library was the binding of great numbers of 

 periodicals and other j^^blications, which have been pre- 

 sented to the Society in j^aper-covered parts. In the early 

 days of the Society it was possible to bind most of the 

 presentations; but during the last 30 years many series 

 have been left unbound. During the year the Council 

 was able to bind about 200 volumes, at a cost of £34 6s. 

 9d. ; but to overtake the arrears of binding, of only the 

 publications in most frequent use, an additional expendi- 

 ture of not less than £200 will be necessary. 



The expenditure on the Library during the year was — ■ 

 from the Morton Allport Memorial Fund, £32 Us. 5d. ; 

 from the Society s ordinary income, about £70 (including 

 postages) ; making a total expenditure of over £100. 



The Council arranged for several new exchanges dur- 

 ing the yeiar, and many gaps in the series of publicar 

 tions in the Library were filled by presentations from 

 Societies and Institutions. A list of the Institutions, etc. 

 (numbering 148), to which the Society's i:)ublications are 

 presented, is appended to this Report. 



A complete list of the Society's publications:, with the 

 prices at which they can be purchased by the public, was 

 prepared and circulated early in the year. The publica- 

 tion of this list has resulted in some increase in the re- 

 ceipts from sales. 



The Council takes this opportunity to remind mem- 

 bers that the collection of books on the history of Tas- 

 mania in the Society's Library, although extensive already, 

 could be added to considerably. The Council will welcome 

 presentations not only of books, but of pamphlets and 

 documents, which may be of little interest now, but may 

 become of great value in the future. Not the least valu- 

 able of the books in the Library are some books and 

 pamphlets presented in, the early years of the Society, 

 which, though common then, have now become both rare 

 and interesting. 



The Council has authorised the purchase of a safe or 

 chest for the custody of manuscripts and rare books belong- 

 ing to the Society. 



The Council thinks it is very desirable that, when the 

 cataloguing of the library has been completed, an attend- 

 ant acquainted with its contents should be present when- 

 ever the library-room is open. If such supervision can be 

 provided, the Council sees no reason why the public should 

 not be admitted to the room. The library was originally 

 intended to be a public one, and there are probably many 

 outside the Society who would be glad to use the books. 



