REPORT. 



There is little to report during the course of the past year, except 

 the quiet, steady, useful operation of each department of the 

 Institution. 



During the last meeting of the British Association for the 

 Advancement of Science, Avhich was held in Liverpool, the entire 

 building in William Brown Street was devoted to the purposes of 

 the meeting. The great hall was appropriated for daily assembly, 

 and offices ; a portion of the reading-room and the students' room 

 served for reading and correspondence, and several of the sections 

 were accommodated in the theatre and other parts of the building. 

 One of the soirees was held at the Institution, when all the 

 departments were lighted up and thrown open to the visitors. 

 The arrangements generally ajipear to have given satisfaction. 



The necessary closing of the building to the pubKc during some 

 weeks, for the meeting and for cleaniag and painting, was an 

 inconvenience to the ordinary frequenters, but was cheerfully 

 submitted to without any complaint. 



The statistics of each department are as follows : — 



REFEEENCE LIBRAEY. 



During the past year the average mimber of books issued and 

 retiurned has been 2,215 per day, the yearly circulation numbering 

 620,124 volumes, against 624,619 during the previous year. 



