CENTRAL REFERENCE IJBRARY. 



The number of volumes issued during the last year has been 195,962, 

 as against 202,534, during the previous year. At first sight this seems 

 a falling oflf to the extent of 6,572 volumes; but when the circum- 

 tances of the issues are analysed, not only is this accounted for, but 

 results of a most gratifying character present themselves. At the 

 opening of the Library, and for some time subsequently, a very large 

 proportion of the books called for were works of imagination and amuse- 

 ment. These being soon read, and each work frequently extending to 

 several volumes, the issues in this department were very large. By little 

 and little, the per ceutage of these works has been diminishing, and the 

 proportion of the demand for higher class literature has been increasing, 

 showing strongly the progressive character of the mental culture, which 

 a taste for reading imparts. The following is the tabulated statement of 

 the issues during the past year : — 



Classification. Volumes. °"'Vbo^^*' 



Theology, Morals, and Metaphysics 6352 22 



Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, Chemistry, &c 71.37 25 



Natural Historj', Botany, Mineralogy, &c 3167 11 



Science and the Arts, Architecture, Painting, Music, &c. 10903 38 



History and Biography 16348 57 



Topography and Antiquities 2901 10 



Geography, Voyages, and Travels 10188 35 



IMiscellaneous Literature 56002 195 



Jurisprudence, Law, and Politics 1068 4 



Commerce, Political Economy, and Social Statistics .... 745 8 



Education, Logic, Language, &c 4763 17 



Poetry and Dramatic Tiiterature 8704 30 



Works of Imagination 62395 217 



Classical Literature 893 3 



Heraldry, Encyclopiwlias, and Works of Keference 4396 15 



Total 195962 



From the above statement, as compared with that of the previous 

 year, the following results appear : — 



In works of imagination and fiction there has been a falling off in 

 the demand of 12,950 volumes. 



In general literature the demand has been about stationary. 



