It ought to be noted that in 1886, bound volume^ of the " Illus- 

 trated London News " and the " Graphic " were kept for ute in the 

 Reference Library, and were much in request ; the tables being fre- 

 quently filled with people merely turning over pictures, a practice 

 which the Committee very wnsely discontinued a year or two later. 

 On the other hand, we have now a number of books for reference for 

 free consultation, and of the use of which no record can possibly be 

 kept : so that in all probability the uumbei of books of solid reading 

 used fo refcience, shows the same proportionate increa>.e as the rest 

 of the Library. 



The usual Tables of Stock and Issues are appended, and those 

 interested will find all necessary' information therein. I might point 

 out that our percentage of Fiction in the whole stock is m\y 27, and 

 that of Children's Books 10, the remaining 63 per cent, being solid 

 instructive reading, a fact which those should note who say that Public 

 Libraries only exist for the encouragement of Novel reading. I can 

 reiterate my last } ear's statement that the tastes of our readcxs show 

 a slow but steady improvement. 



The museum has been emiched by several valuable gifts during 

 the past year, and I believe that thi.s part of the Institution is fulfilling 

 its purpose educationally, as well a; providing pleasant recreation 

 for casual visitors. 



Our Reading Rooms arc much appreciated, and there is no time 

 during the day in which they are not well attended. Our readers 

 cannot say that they are not well catered for ; for there are pro\dded 

 for their use 24 daily papers, 90 weeklies, 76 monihlies, and S quar- 

 terlies, 198 in all. Of these, 73 arc in the Reading Rccm, 21 in the 

 Ladies' Room, and 104 in the Reference Room. In the latter are 

 included most of the leading Scientific and Commercial periodicals : 

 while in the same room are to be found 50 books of reference for free 

 consultation, the Time Tables of all the principal Railway Companies, 

 and a large assortment of Directories of the principal towns and tradee. 

 At the Arboretum Reading Room there are 13 daily, 23 weekly, and 

 18 monthly periodicals. I have not had a single complaint duiing 

 the year of the conduct of thos? using the rooms, even the epidemic 

 of pilfering has been less acute, and the rule enforcing silence is seldom 

 violated. 



