Reports of Committees. 11 



COMIHTTEE ON LIBEAEY. 



The time has again an-ived, when according to the provisions ot 

 the by-laws of the American Institute, the library committee are 

 required to make a report. They beg leave to submit the following : 



By the authority of the Institute given them at the last annual 

 meeting, they have had nine additional book cases erected j at an 

 expense of $ttl8,38. These additions have not only improved the 

 appearance of the rooms, but have given the librarian an opportunity 

 to make a better classification of the books. 



Although the financial condition of the country has not relieved 

 us from the necessity of paying high prices for books, especially- 

 foreign works, your committee have nevertheless felt it to be their 

 duty to purchase whatever works seemed to be demanded, in order 

 to accomplish the grand object of the Institution. The committee 

 have accordingly procured some of the best works on various branches 

 of science. 



The committee, during the past year, have been enabled to com- 

 plete several important sets of scientific journals, among them the 

 London Mechanic's Magazine, eleven volumes ; and the Journal of the 

 Royal Agricultural Society, nine volumes. 



The purchases during the year have been confined to works of a 

 scientific character. The committee have expended for books and 

 periodicals $583.71, and for binding $111.67, making a total ot 

 $695.38. 



The whole number of volumes in the library at the 



date of the last report, was 9>115 



Added during the year by purchase 140 



Donations as exchanges 168 



308 



Making the total number of volumes now in the library . 9 > 423 



Nearly all of which are in excellent condition. 



The committee cannot close this report without alluding to the 

 valuable donation of 149 volumes of scientific works made to the 

 Institute by Mr. James S. Thomas. This donation was reported to 

 the Institute at the December meeting, when ]Mi\ Thomas was 

 unanimously elected a life member. 



A list of donations of books to the library dm*ing the year will be 

 found annexed. 



