THE KETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 11 



and publisher.^. The largest single donation was from the 

 estate of the late General Cogswell. 



The library now contains about 70,000 bound volumes 

 and something more than 200,000 i)amphlets. 



There is little for the librarian to say in his rei)ort this 

 year except to reiterate and emphasize what he has said 

 for the past live or six years. The library is greatly in 

 need of funds to make it more available and useful to the 

 public. It needs a fire-proof stack room for the storage 

 of books' and it needs a catalogue. These needs appeal to 

 the generously disposed as a most excellent method of 

 benefiting the large number of persons who annually visit 

 the rooms of the Institute, and the still greater number 

 that would be attracted thither by increased accommoda- 

 tions and facilities. We are confident the aid will come 

 in time, we ho})e in a comparatively short time, and when 

 it comes the Institute will be able to be of greater service 

 to the public in many ways. Until that time we must be 

 content to go along as at present doing a little work each 

 year and preparing the way for the future changes. 



The interest in the library is fully maintained. It is 

 frequently consulted and is of great use to students who 

 are pursuing special lines of study and research. It does 

 not aim to be a popular library, but pursues its work on 

 dirterent lines from the Public Libiary and Salem Ath- 

 a-neum, and by so doing avoids duplication, and relieves 

 the libraries named from making any attempt to supply 

 those books which are within the special line of work 

 marked out by the Institute. 



The (juickened interest in the Institute is shown in its 

 largely increased membership. Let us see to it that this 

 interest is not allowed to flag, or grow cool, from any 

 want of efibit on our part. 



Chas. S. Osgood, 



Lihvarktn. 



