GENERAL REPORT. 



In presenting the Annual Report of the Library, Museum, and Arts 

 Committee, the opportunity is afforded, not merely to place before the 

 Council the statistical facts which tell of the magnitude and completeness 

 of the work done by this noble and remarkable group of Institutions, but it 

 also enables us to consider the value of that work, and to estimate its 

 moral and intellectual influence upon the well-being of this great 

 community. 



To fully appreciate this we have to recognise the changed and 

 changing principle upon which society has now its basis — to quote the 

 words of a great Statesman, "As civilization has gradually progressed it 

 " has equalised the physical qualities of man. Instead of the strong arm 

 " it is the strong head that is now the mo^-ing principle of society. You 

 " have disenthroned Force and placed on her high seat Intelligence, and 

 " the necessary consequence of this great revolution is, that it has become 

 " the duty and delight of every citizen to cultivate his faculties. 

 " Knowledge is no longer the lonely eremite affording a chance and 

 "captivating hospitality to some wandering pilgrim, knowledge is now 

 "found in the market place a citizen and a leader of citizens." It is 

 difficult to express in a few sentences how far these institutions are 

 realizing this great mission of civilisation and enlightenment ; but if we 

 consider that the 11,269 readers at our lending libraries represent so 

 many foci of intellectual culture, that the 108,591 readers at our reading 

 rooms as an army of seekers after knowledge and literary recreation, and 

 a portion only of the 196,119 readers in the Picton Reading Room as 

 serious students, we have suggested to us some idea of the extent of 

 intellectual work now carried on. The moral effect of such work cannot 

 be better expressed than in the words of Sir John Herschel : " It is 

 " hardly possible but the character should take a higher and better tone 

 " from the constant habit of associating in thought with a class of thinkers, 

 " to say the least of it, above the average of humanity. It is morally 

 '' impossible but that the manners should take a tinge of good breeding 

 " and civilization from having constantly before one's eyes the way in 

 " which the best bred and the best-informed men have talked and 



