CENTRAL REFERENCE LIBRARY. 



Seven years have nearly passed away since the opening of this 

 Library, each sticcessive year exhibiting an increasing interest, and a 

 higher appreciation of its treasures. It was supposed that no addition 

 could be made, in the present premises, to the 195,453 readers of 

 last year, from the want of space for their accommodation ; but this 

 year's numbers amount to 202,534, being an increase of 7,081. The 

 Reading Room continues to be crowded, from ten o'clock in the 

 morning till ten at night ; and the fifty-five Magazhies, Reviews, and 

 Scientific Journals placed on the tables are constantly in requisition. 



The following is a classified hst of the Books read during the last 

 twelve months, the average number being 710 volumes per day: — 



Daily Average, 



Classification. Volumes. about 



Theology, Morals, and Metaphysics 6123 21 



Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, Chemistry, &c 6780 24 



Natural History, Botany, Mineralogy, &c 2760 10 



Science and the Arts, Architecture, Painting, Music, &c. 9647 34 



History and Biography .... 14442 51 



Topography and Antiquities 2576 9 



Geography, Voyages, and Travels 8855 31 



Miscellaneous Literature 56952 199 



Jurisprudence, Law, and Politics 1024 4 



Commerce, Political Economy, and Social Statistics 750 3 



Education, Logic, Language, &c 4087 14 



Poetry and Dramatic Literature 8298 29 



Works of Imagination 75245 263 



Classical Literature 783 3 



Heraldry, Encyclopaedias, and Works of Eeference .... 4212 15 



Total 2025-34 



It mil be observed from the above table that, whilst the issues 

 on the whole have considerably increased, the proportion of works 

 of imagination has considerably diminished. Although reading for 

 amusement is one of the most innocent of recreations, it is still satis- 

 factory to find that free admission to works of this class has not the 

 effect of destroying the appetite for the more solid and instructive 

 classes of literature. 



