CHAIRMAN’S PREFACE. 
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The Reports in this Volume, from the Chief Librarian, the 
Director of Museums, and the Curator of the Art Gallery, are so 
full that little need be added here in regard to the detail work of 
these institutions. I hope they will be widely read, as they deserve 
to be, for they contain a very interesting summary of an immense 
amount of good work done on the literary, scientific and artistic 
side of the life of our city. Institutions which in a single year 
issue over 43 millions of books and periodicals, provide Free 
Lectures for 100,000 people, and receive 836,000 visitors to 
Museums and Art Gallery, must be conferring substantial benefit, 
and be exercising a vast educational influence, on the community. 
It is gratifying to see some appreciation of this in the gifts made to 
them by the public. In addition to purchases, there were added by 
donations last year:—to the Museums nearly 13,000 separate 
specimens; to the Libraries over 500 books and publications; and 
to the Art Gallery 195 pictures, etchings, and other works of art. 
But while we are grateful, we are still expectant. The earnest 
plea of the Curator for the extension of the Art Gallery will be 
found in his report. This is urgently needed, both in the interests 
of the public and of the pictures. Then again, further progress in 
the very desirable co-operation of the Museum Sub-Committee 
with the scientific experts of the University is difficult, until we 
can give them better facilities for instructing their students from 
the wealth of material either already in the Museums or which they 
are prepared to bring there. Here is a unique occasion, to be seized 
by some generous donor, a friend alike of the University and the 
City. 
A complete re-arrangement of the administrative offices and staff 
of the Libraries would also promote efficiency and economy, as well 
as save the time of readers. The addition in recent years of many 
