82 THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 



The donations to the library for the year have been re- 

 ceived from two hundred and nine individuals and one 

 hundred and eleven societies and governmental depart- 

 ments. The exchanges, from twelve individuals and two 

 hundred and nine societies and incorporated institutions, 

 of which one hundred and one are foreign ; also from edi- 

 tors and publishers. Several hundred volumes have been 

 received from the library of our late president, Dr. Wheat- 

 land, and the foreign exchanges of the Peabody Academy 

 of Science, many of them extremely rare and valuable, 

 have been added to our library. An appeal has been made 

 during the year to the different towns of Essex County to 

 complete our sets of town reports and the responses have 

 been very satisfactory. 



These statistics show the continued growth of the li- 

 brary which now numbers about 60,000 bound volumes 

 and about 175, 000 unbound volumes including pamphlets. 



But while the library grows steadily, our facilities for 

 taking care of the books have not increased. It is becom- 

 ing, indeed it already is, a serious question, What shall we 

 do to provide additional room for the storage of our 

 books ? 



We have kept in mind the plan suggested in a previous 

 report with regard to marking out special lines of work 

 for the Public Library and the Essex Institute. 



Our full collections of public documents, which would 

 prove very valuable if properly arranged and indexed, we 

 would like to deposit with the Public Library and con- 

 fine the work of the Institute largely to local history, 

 genealogy and kindred subjects. 



But the Public Library is rapidly outgrowing its present 

 quarters; and, until more accommodations are provided, 

 which must be in the near future, has no room which it 

 can use for the reception of the documents. 



