PRCCEEDIN'GS FOR 1897 XLIX 



served the privilege of rewarding- the men who in her grandsire's 

 reign preserved to the crown the integrity of the Empire over which 

 she has ruled so well for the good of all and the example of the 

 world. 



IX. — From The Ottawa Literary & Scientific Society, through Dr. Ami 



As representative or delegate of the Ottawa Literary and Scientific 

 Society, I have the honour to make the following report of the society 

 during the year ending March 31st last : 



The past year has been the most successful one in the history of the 

 society if we are to be guided by membeivship and volumes issued. The 

 receipts have shown a slight increase, too, over the previous year, having 

 been $1,141.55, including the (rovernment grant of $100.00. -Over a 

 hundred dollars worth of books were added to the library, while the 

 reading room was supplemented by the Athenœum and Fliogende Blatter, 

 the latter a German weekly much appreciated. The membership has 

 increased to over 280, and the nvimber of volumes issued 7,745, the 

 latter being an increase of over fifty per cent over the preceding year. 

 In this connection it is gratifying to state that the percentage of fiction 

 read has fallen from the abnormally high ratio of 90 per cent to 76, 

 (which is still higher than desirable) with a consequent increase in the 

 more serious reading. 



The total number issued is distributed in diff'erent classes, as fol- 

 lows : 



History and Biography 282 



Travels 183 



Fiction 5,869 



Poetry 27 



Essays and Metaphj^sies 194 



Theology and Religion 1 



Geology, Geography 5 



Natural History 7 



Asti-onomy, Mathematics, Engineering 144 



Magazines, Encylopa?dias 1,033 



The usefulness of the library has boen increased by the preparation 

 of a preliminary catalogue — both class and author. Special blank- 

 subject, class and author-catalogues have been printed for a more 

 detailed and systematic classification. 



The system about to be adopted was considered the most suitable 

 for the librarj-, due consideration having been given to the decimal, 

 expansive and dictionary systems. 



As usual, the society has given a course of lectures dui-iiig the 

 winter, and, as in the previous year, in conjunction with the Field 



Proc. 1897. D. 



