the acquisition of a vast number of municipal and governmental annual or serial publications of great engineering value, and also innumerable trade catalognee, that would he of great use if systematically arranged. Such publications could be obtained gratuitously, because it is clearly to the interest of those who issue them to have them placed where they would be properly cared for and made readily accessible to the public. But it is necessary to look constantly with watchful eye for their appearance, and oticasionally to inform a new official or a new manufacturer of our desire for the publications, and there is, besides, the attention required for the cataloguing and convenient systematic arrangement. The present service of the Library is too shorthanded to attend properly to this very important branch of our work. Setting the pamphlets in proper order, when new quartem are provided, will also require a great'deal of unusual labor.
The binding is still so far in arrears, a liberal appropriation for the purpose is earnestly desired, in order that good progress may be made towards a satisfactory condition of the Library.
The main addition of books has been, as usual, from special gifts, and next from the volumes of serials received in exchange for the Journal.
'The Moore Fund, ordinarily yielding about $750 a year, has, unfortunately, the past year, enabled the purchase of but few books. The Memorial Library Fund, about $50 a year, has supplied a better number of books than the pre ceding year. The Lea Fund, about $150 a year, has now fairly begun to bring in new books. The James T. Morris Fund of $a,cmo has not yielded any income for the purchase of books.
The zeal and harmony of the Library Committee continue unabated, and it is believed that benefit will result from its meetings and earnest discussions, even if the temporary condition of the fund investments should occasionally make it impossible to order books to be purchased.