IxXVi PROCEEDINGS. 



increasing the exchange-list, and with this end in view the 

 edition of our "Transactions" was in 1890 increased to one 

 thousand copies, and the question of dealing adequately 

 with the binding of exchanges was actively taken up. (See 

 MacGregor's Address, 8th October, 1890.). In November, 

 1889, the Institute exchanged with only about one hundred 

 institutions, but steps were being taken to increase this num- 

 ber to three or four hundred, and this was ultimately brought 

 up to seven or eight hundred. 



The library then began to grow by leaps and bounds. 

 Very soon it could not be accommodated in the Post Office 

 hall, and in 1894 the foreign section of it was removed to 

 Dalhousie College and eventually all of it, where Mac- 

 Gregor had it constantly under his eye, sharing with Mr. 

 Bowman the great labour connected with its management, 

 labour which was given willingly and gratuitously by these 

 otherwise busy gentlemen. 



Still it grew till it soon was beyond the capabilities of a 

 small society with limited means, to look after it properly. 

 Seeing that such publications, from every quarter of the 

 world, and containing the very latest results in science, were 

 of use to the whole province and not only to a limited few, 

 the Institute by letter to the Provincial Secretary, dated 

 21st December, 1899, stated its willingness to intrust its 

 library to the custody of the government (the right of pro- 

 perty remaining with the society) on condition that it "should 

 be made the nucleus of a public library to be maintained by 

 the government in connection with the Provincial Museum, 

 and to be open to all who may wish to use it, under such 

 restrictions only as might be necessary for the safe-keeping 

 of the books," and also on condition that the government 

 appoint "a competent librarian to take the library in charge." 



The government saw the wisdom of acquiring these books 

 under the conditions laid down, and the result was the 

 foundation of the Provincial Science Lipjrari of Nova 



