1890-91.] librarian's report. 71 



rapid growth of her colleges and technological schools the advantages of 

 such a collection of exchanges will continually increase. It is the 

 earnest hope of your Librarian that nothing will be done to decrease the 

 progress of our exchange list, and thereby limit the usefulness of the 

 Institute to all scientific workers. 



With the object of increasing the interest of members in our exchanges, 

 the Librarian has in contemplation a plan for abstracting the contents of 

 the Transactions, etc., received, which he hopes to bring into effect during 

 the next session. 



A more pressing need, however, is that of a library catalogue. The 

 exertions of the former librarian, Mr. Chamberlain, having introduced an 

 orderly arrangement into the library, the important task remains of 

 •cataloguing the books. The majority of our members are probably 

 ignorant of the varied collection of general literature which will be at 

 their command when the catalogue is completed. This will probably be 

 by the beginning of next winter's session. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



III. The number of societies, individuals and peri- 



odicals to which the publications of the 



Institute are sent 516 



IV. Reading Room, Periodicals subscribed for.... 36 

 V, Total of separate numbers rec'd by purchase . . 834 



VI. Number of books and periodicals taken out. ... 1,551 



Appended will be found a list of exchanges arranged according to 

 countries, by the Assistant Librarian. 

 All of which is respectfully submitted. 



DAVID R. KEYS, M.A., 



Librarian. 



DONATIONS AND EXCHANGES. 



(April 1, 1890, to April i, 1891.) 



I. Donations to library (of which 151 were pre- 



sented by Mrs. Seidler, and 61 by the late 

 Hugh Wilson) 390 



II. Exchanges received from — 



Canada 200 



United States 800 



Mexico, West Indies and South America 73 



Great Britain and Ireland 473 



