Report of the Librarian. 
lxi 
afterwards desired by another member, the one using them 
might be notified of the fact by the librarian, and would then 
be required to return them within two weeks from the date of 
issuing the notification. Detention of books beyond this time 
should be punished by a fine sufficiently large to insure prompt 
and safe return. Members non-resident in Madison could have 
the use of books on the same terms as residents, the books be¬ 
ing forwarded to them by express and the charges paid by 
them. Persons other than members should in the discretion of 
the librarian, be allowed to consult the books at the library, 
but books should not be issued to them. These regulations are, I 
apprehend, all that would be necessary, but if it were found that 
others were desirable,they might be added later. 
The plan proposed to issue books to members on request 
would add somewhat to the work of the librarian or his assist 
ant, and they should, I think, be paid according to the amount 
of time devoted to the library. The proper care of the library 
in its present condition is considerable, and the best results 
will be secured if a nominal compensation is given the librarian. 
This the academy is able to do. 
NEED OF BETTER QUARTERS FOR THE LIBRARY. 
The Library committee in their report at the annual meeting 
of 1892, emphasized the necessity of securing better quarters 
for the books. Not only are the books unsafe and inaccessible 
in their present location, but they are liable to be considerably 
damaged by remaining where they are. The major part of the 
collection is now bound, and some of the more valuable books 
are nicely bound. As the cases have no backs, but rest against 
the rough plaster, it is impossible to keep from the books 
finely disintegrated plaster which shakes down from the walls. 
The books become covered with a considerable layer of this 
material, which is so gritty as to abrade the skin when the 
books are handled. On opening a book this material gets be¬ 
tween the leaves and plates. Moreover the cases are already 
nearly filled (many are quite full) and the library is growing so 
fast through our exchanges that the cases will no longer be 
made to contain all the books. 
