CENTRAL REFERENCE LIBRARY. 



Notwithstanding the confined space to which the readers are limited, 

 it will be seen from the subjoined table, that the number of readers has 

 considerably increased during the year ; the number of volumes issued 

 being 153,169, against 131,912 in the previous year. The crowding 

 and inconvenience have been great, 170 or 180 readers being frequently 

 compressed into the reading-room, which is not calculated to hold 

 conveniently more than 100. 



The conduct of the readers, and the care taken of the books, have 

 been beyond all praise. Many of the artisans have expressed their 

 gratitude and their high appreciation of the privilege of consulting the 

 valuable works in their various departments, more especially in ship- 

 building, ornamental designs for cabinet and iron work, and the various 

 branches of practical science. It cannot be doubted, that access to 

 works of this class, hitherto for the most part beyond their reach, must 

 contribute to the advancement of our artisans in their several pro- 

 fessions, as well as tend to raise them in the scale of intelligence. 



The following is the classification of the issues : — 



Number and Clasaifiation of ]1ooks read. Daily average, about 



Theology, Morality, and Metaphysics 4637 17 



Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, Chemistry, &c 40J2 15 



Natm-al History, Botany, Mineralogy, &c 1309 5 



Science and the Arts, Architecture, Painting, Music, &c. 5034 18 



History and Biography 10475 38 



Topography and Antiquities 1272 5 



Geography, Voyages, and Travels 5783 20 



Miscellaneous Literature 46346 165 



Jurisprudence, Law, and Politics 799 3 



Commerce, PoUtical Economy, and Statistics 641 2 



Education, Logic, Language, &c 1993 7 



Poetry and Dramatic Literature 5218 19 



Novels and Works of Imagination 68727 222 



Classical Literature 254 1 



Heraldry, Encyclopsedias, and Works of Reference 1669 6 



Total 1.53169 543 



