22 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



of new books, than to the preservation of valuable old ones, and 

 to the completion of imperfect sets of works of importance. 



The present librarian has much improved the arrr ngement of 

 the books on the shelves ; the classification is simple, and thereby 

 facilitates access to books in the different departments of science 

 and literature. 



Early in the year, the Committee ordered an examination of all 

 the books on the shelves, and a careful comparison of the same 

 with the catalogue. The time and labor bestowed upon this 

 examination was well employed ; of the 8,468 volumes in the 

 library, only 5,732 had been recorded in the numerical catalogue, 

 the balance being on sheets of loose paper; if these papers had 

 been lost, no record would have been left to discover the numbers 

 of the books contained thereon. No less than 530 volumes reg- 

 ularly numbered, and on the catalogue are missing — neither 

 found on the shelves of the library, nor charged on the circu- 

 lating ledger to members. 



This examination and comparison disclosed the further fact 

 that, there were in the library 23*7 volumes which were unnum- 

 bered and uncatalogued, no record or index of them whatever, 

 to show that the Institute owned, or that the library possessed 

 such works. 



How far the loss of these books may be attributed to inatten- 

 tion or neglect, the committee have no means of ascertaining, 

 but it is a source of sincere regret that Mr. Harris, the late libra- 

 rian did not report the loss during his term of office. 



The library contained, per the report of the library committee, 



made to the Institute, Feb. 2, 1 860, 8,468 vols. 



From which should be deducted 62 numbers in 



the catalogue omitted ._ 62 



Books not in the library as per list appended . . 530 



592 



Added this year : 7,876 



By purchase 27 



Subscription _ 40 



Donations _ 44 



Exchanged _ 24 



Pamphlets 1 



136 



Total 8,012 vols. 



