THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 79 



Of the total number of pamphlets and serials, 2,731 

 were pamphlets, and 11,782 were serials. 



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

 ceived from one hundred and fifty-nine individuals and 

 seventy-two societies and governmental departments. The 

 exchanges from eight individuals and from one hundred 

 and sixty-six societies and incorporate institutions of which 

 ninety-two are foreign ; also from editors and publishers. 



It must be very gratifying to all the friends of the Essex 

 Institute to reflect that while every year since its organi- 

 zation has witnessed a constant increase in its prosperity 

 and usefulness, the past year has added to its material re- 

 sources more abundantly than ever. The purchase of the 

 Daland estate gives us a most commodious and convenient 

 building for the reception of that part of our library which 

 is most used for reference and circulation, as well as fire- 

 proof rooms for the most valuable portion of our collec- 

 tions. In connection with the facilities afforded us by the 

 lower rooms of Plummer Hall, it is hoped that sufficient 

 room will be found for the present to* arrange properly the 

 whole library, now consisting of 50,000 bound volumes, 

 besides our great collection of pamphlets and newspapers. 

 In 1855 the number of bound volumes was stated to be 

 10,000.! From that time to 1872 the total of bound vol- 

 umes added to the library was 16,118 or an average of 895 

 per year. From 1873 to 1886 the total was 17,656, aver- 

 aging 1,261 each year. Adding to these the donations of 

 the past year gives the present total of bound volumes just 

 50,000. 



With such rapid growth the time will soon come when 

 still larger accommodations will be required. 



Among the donations to the library (which much exceed 



1 See second " Act of Incorporation " Dec., 1855.. 

 KS8EX INST. BULLETIN, VOL. XIX 7* 



