10 THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 



Of the total number of pamphlets and serials, 2,244 

 were pamphlets and 3,579 were serials. 



The donations to the library for the year have been 

 received from two hundred and one individuals and nine- 

 ty-three societies and governmental departments. The 

 exchanges, from ten individuals and two hundred and 

 nineteen societies and incorporated institutions, of which 

 one hundred and twenty-two are foreign ; also from edi- 

 tors and publishers. 



To these facts and figures the librarian has but little to 

 add. The ordinary routine work of the library has been 

 performed quietly and effectively and, we have reason to 

 believe, has been appreciated by many students and in- 

 vestigators. There have been no large donations as in 

 many former years which accounts for the much smaller 

 increase of the library, although the number of donors and 

 exchanges have not materially changed. 



The use of the library shows a steady increase from 

 year to year, one reason for it this year being found in 

 the impetus given to local historical research by the for- 

 mation, by the ladies connected with the Institute, of the 

 history class to which reference is made in the other re- 

 ports. 



During the year the magazines in the library, both 

 bound and unbound, have been arranged, and an alpha- 

 betical list of them made, so that it is now possible to tell 

 at once what numbers of the different magazines we have 

 and what are our deficiencies. This will be found a great 

 convenience to all who wish to consult them. 



The long-looked-for, and confidently expected addition 

 to the funds of the Institute, has not as yet been forth- 

 coming, but we do not lose heart on this account. During 

 the past year we have made an almost phenomenal addi- 

 tion to our list of members. This brings to the mind of 



