REPORT 



OF THE LIBRARY COMMITTKE OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The Lihrarv Committee, in mnking its report for the year 1864, 

 coufornmhly uitli the provisiions of the Iiy-hnv^ of the American 

 Institute, \K'fz h>ave to .submit the follouinjr : 



During lliis great national crisis its ojicrations have been greatly 

 embarrassed in consequence of the (.lilliculty cxperienccl in obtaining 

 that class of Ijooks -which the necessities of the Institute rcfjuirc. 

 The aim and policy of your Committee is, and has been, t(» be pos- 

 sessed of all recent publications, both in this and foreign countries, 

 treating upon those subjects "which are the specialty of the InslitJite, 

 rather than the more miscellaneous works, which, wiiile they arc 

 more attractive to the general reader, do not tend to promote the 

 objects contemplated in the organization of oni- Institution. The 

 rate of foreign exchange, and the increased piice of all American 

 publications, have re.sti'icted your Committee to the purchase of only 

 such books as have been deemed indispensable. 



The regular increase of the number of volumes to the Library 

 renders it necessary that ( nlurged accommodations should be pro- 

 vided, in order that the new volumes ma}' lind a convei'.ient resting 

 place. Your Committee therefore recommend that the Trustees be 

 authorized and empowered to make .such adn^i'iiK rf <;;-is juid 

 shelving as is required for this purpose. 



The Library now ct.ntains f?,()83 volumes, all in cxcclient condi- 

 tion, and is jjrobably one of the linest collections of scientific books 

 in the coimtry. And the Committee are desirous that this fact be 

 extensively known, believing that this knowledge would have the 

 effect (if inducing n.any wl.o are i)robabIy igi:or:int of it to Ixcomc 

 members of the Institute. 



AVhile the Tarmers' ( lub, the Poly tt clinic, and the Horticultural 

 Associations arc di^^( niii:alir.g wi<Iel} j:.s< ful an<l valu:;))le infoi n:;jtion 

 without money ar.d without price, th<' Libiary. though less publicly, 

 is quicily performing its important part l)y ^iK ntly imparting that 

 intellectual aliment wh<ise results are not confine <1 to the individual 

 recipient. 



It has been suggested tt) the Committee that the interests of the 

 Institute woidtl lie prj)moted by having on oui- tables .some of the 

 beot and newest atlases, and also ma;- "*' t'l" more recently explored 



