THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 11 



many more persons the wants and needs of the Institute 

 and the good work it is doing for the county and city. 

 From this largely increased membership, or by means of 

 it, we hope and believe that some will be interested to the 

 extent of furnishing, in some form, a substantial addition 

 to our available funds. When we realize how much has 

 been done by the Institute, at a comparatively small ex- 

 pense, we can form some estimate of how much the public 

 would be benefited were a larger fund placed at its dis- 

 posal. 



The needs of the library are a stack room for books 

 and a catalogue. Our ever increasing number of books, 

 now about 65,000 bound volumes and 200,000 pamphlets, 

 make the first a pressing necessity which we have partly 

 relieved by the undesirable method of storing those least 

 used outside the library building, and the second is need- 

 ed that the users of the library may be able to know just 

 what it contains on the subjects upon which they desire 

 to inform themselves. Both these needs appeal to the 

 liberality of the public and must await the time when that 

 liberality shall manifest itself. 



In conclusion, the librarian would congratulate the mem- 

 bers on the possession of a library somewhat unique in 

 character, and one which, notwithstanding all the draw- 

 backs, is frequently and profitably consulted. 



Charles S. Osgood, 



Librarian. 



