XXXIV PROCEEDINGS. 



The majority of these are home and foreign .Scientific Societies. But they include 

 also, all Canadian Universities and Colleges, all Nova Scotian schools which have 

 libraries, and all other Nova Scotian Libraries, of which we have knowledge. Of 

 the Scientific Societies to which we are sending, about one half are already send- 

 ing us their publications in return, so that the rapid growth of the Library to 

 which I referred in addressing you last year, still continues. 



The growth of our Library and the inconveniences of our present accommoda- 

 tion, which make access to our books extremely difficult, keep before our minds 

 the necessity of some change in this respect. I regret to say that the efi'ort, to 

 which I referred last year as being made, to secure a building to accommodate the 

 Provincial Museum, the Legislative Library, the City Library, the Art School, 

 the Historical Society's library, and our own, has not resulted in success, 

 and has had to be abandoned, at any rate, for a time. We, however, must 

 make some new arrangement at an early date, if we are to avoid boxing up and 

 storing in a temporarily inaccessible way, the publications which scientific 

 societies are sending us ; and the inconuug Council cannot direct their efforts 

 better than in an endeavour to secure a local habitation. I am firmly convinced 

 the progress of the Institute is largely dependent upon its securing con- 

 venient rooms in which its meetings may be held and its members have easy 

 access to the library. The main difficulty is of course, in the payment of the 

 rent of rooms and the salary of a Librarian. At present the publication of the 

 transactions, the binding of books, and general miscellaneous expenses, use up our 

 whole income, although the business of ilie Institute is so carefully managed 

 that retrenchment seems impossible if its main work, the publication and circula- 

 tion of its researches and the building up of its Library, is to be continued as at 

 present. Possibly the annual expenditure necessary to secure convenient quarters 

 may be considerably diminished by co-operation with the Historical Society, 

 which, though more favorably situated than we are, nevertheless finds its work 

 impeded through lack of accommodation. But in any case if a local habitation 

 is to be secured, our income must be increased. Might I therefore suggest to the 

 new Council that they should discuss the feasibility of what seems to me the only 

 probable way of securing such addition to our income, viz., hiring rooms, 

 appointing an Assistant Librarian to keep them open as many hours a day and as 

 many days a week as maj' be found possible, subscribing for the leading 

 scientific papers, throwing the Library open to the public on payment of a small 

 annual fee, and then appealing to the public to assist us on the ground of the 

 public utility of our action. To meet the expense incurred an active canvass 

 would have to be made by our members. But there must be a large number of 

 persons in the city especially, who would be willing to pay our small annual fee 

 for the privileges which membership under the new conditions would bring, and 

 many also who would be willing to become members in order to secure for the 

 public the benefit which would be involved in aceess to our books. 



Finally, before proceeding to the business of the evening, I wish to renew my 

 thanks to the Institute for the honour they have done me in continuing my 

 Presidency during the full term permitted by its laws. During my term of office, 

 the Institute has met with serious reverses. But I think I may say that through 

 the hearty co-operation of many of its members, it is now stronger, more active 



