5 



of the Library. The number of readers is frequeiith' greater than tlie 

 accommodation, though large, of the present rooms. The completion of 

 the New Reading Room will give the means of classifying the readers 

 with advantage. The demand for students' tickets, giving the holders 

 facilities for a course of study, has been large and increasing. Care is 

 taken that this privilege shall not be abused, and there is every reason 

 to believe that it is found of great advantage to clergymen, preceptors, 

 science students, authors, and artists. 



The third supplementary Catalogue is now passing through the press, 

 containing the books received up to the 31st December last. 



According to a plan suggested by Mr. Cowell, the Librarian, the list 

 of the books received is printed weekly, and entered in the catalogue 

 alphabetically, so that every book will be found in its proper place down 

 to the latest volume received. This plan, it is believed, has not hitherto 

 been adopted by any other public library. It is unnecessary to point out 

 the great facility and saving of time which it provides. 



During the past year a Conference was held in London of Librarians 

 from all parts of the kingdom, attended on behalf of this Institution by 

 Mr. P. Cowell, Chief Librarian. Many important subjects were dis- 

 cussed -with advantage, and it is intended that this Conference shall 

 be annual. 



The following are the statistics in this department : — 



Table I. — Showing the total issues in the various classes, together 

 with the daily average : — 



Classification. Volnmes Daily 



Issued. Average. 



Theology, Morals, &c 22,002 79 



Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, &c 12,447 45 



Natural History 6,972 25 



Science and the Arts 26,959 97 



History and Biography 27,014 97 



Topography and Antiquities 6, 177 22 



Voyages and Travels 14,512 52 



Miscellaneous Literature (principally Collected Works, Maga- 

 zines, &c.) 125,127 449 



Jurisprudence, Law, and Politics 3,255 12 



Commerce, Political Economy, and Statistics 2,715 10 



Education and Language 6,706 24 



Poetry and Dramatic Literature 17,524 63 



Prose Fiction 170,631 608 



Latin and Greek Classics and Translations 4,051 16 



Heraldry, Encycloptedias, and Works of Reference 7,593 27 



Total 453,585 1,625 



