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Novels are no doubt here, as in all other popular libraries, much more asked for than any other class of books. Twice, the proportion was ascertained. The first time, of 440 books demanded, 138 were novels; the second time, of 712 books desired, 355 were novels.

It is a serious question how far such a Public Library as that of the City of Boston shall be made a Library for the circulation of novels.

2. It is desirable that nobody should come to the Library and ask for a good and useful book without finding a copy ready ; and an approximation may gradually be made to this result. But it is not easy to know exactly how to do it. One of the Trustees has made an experiment to ascertain it as well as he could, at his own expense. Within the last year, Florence Nightingale's book on healthy houses and good nursing, Smiles's Self Help, the Life of Amos Lawrence, the Boy Inventor,— the Teacher's Assistant, and Everett's Life of Washington were much asked for, and the gentleman alluded to presented a number of copies of each to the library. The following table made in April of this year will show, that (though at first, nearly all the copies he gave were circulated and used,) there is now no permanent and considerable demand for them that can be relied upon. Thus, out of 50 copies of Florence Nightingale, there were on the shelves, 12 April, 49 copies; of 20 copies of Smiles's Self Help, 16; of 10 copies of Lawrence's Life, 10; of 20 copies of Everett's Washington, 17; of 12 copies of Teacher's Assistant, 9. The demand has not increased since.

As far as these books, therefore, are concerned, and there are few better books, or books more likely to be popular, the experiment was a failure. Many copies of them are not wanted.

Few persons will help the Trustees in this matter, although many can do it effectually, and have been asked to do so privately and publicly. By Art. 9, of Chap. II. of the By-Laws, everybody who does not find that a book belongs to the Library which he desires to use, is requested to enter its title in a card furnished to him for the very purpose, so that the book he needs may be

bought. Few, in proportion to the time, have so asked, but those that have asked have had the books they wanted, ordered, unless there was some moral or other serious objection to the purchase.

But this is not all. About a year ago the Trustees caused a printed notice to be put into every book lent. from the Library for a fortnight, requesting all persons who could not obtain from the Library any book, (except a novel,) which they might want, either because the book was not in the Library at all, or because there were not copies enough in the Library to meet the demand, requesting these persons to make its title known by the card always ready for the purpose. Several thousand of these notices were put into the books. Less than twenty-five books were asked for in consequence, and they were all ordered to be bought without delay.

Now if, when people are so earnestly invited to make known what books they want, they yet ask for so few, it is sufficient proof that the Institution, in this particular, works well.

3. There is another fact connected with the Library which is worth knowing. Many persons take out the first volume of a book and tire of it, so that they do not take the second or subsequent volumes. Thus of such important and attractive works as Motley's Dutch Republic, on a certain day taken at random, no first volume was found upon the shelves, but there were six copies of the third; of Bancroft's United States, no copy of the first volume was in, but six of the last; of Irving's Washington, three of the first volumes were in, and eight of the last; of Prescott's Mexico, three of the first volume were in, and six of the last, and so of many others. Now of all these and of all such books, the desire has been to keep as many copies as can fairly and steadily be circulated, and the Trustees want to know what are asked for so that they may get them.

But the truth is, that the success of the Library

so much greater than the most sanguine of its friends ever anticipated is a sufficient vindication of its efficiency. No library in the world was ever so freely opened to the public; no library was ever so much used in a community not larger than ours. This

year, 1861, it is more used than it ever was before in the same length of time. If anybody can show how it can be made more useful, he will be an excellent friend to the Institution. Especially, if anybody will suggest what books ought to be bought, agreeably to the request already alluded to in the By-Laws, Chap. II., Art. 9, he will render a true service to the public, and help the cultivation and prosperity of this community.

THE CATALOGUES. The Committee have the pleasure of reporting the completion of the printed Index to the Upper Hall, and think it proper here, to bear this official testimony to the skill, learning, industry, and fidelity of the Superintendent of the Library. If we consider that the catalogue, at least of all great collections, remains to this day a vexatious problem but partially solved, and that by the natural increase of libraries, every year of delay adds to the difficulty of a convenient and accurate classification, we shall then appreciate the labors of Mr. Jewett, and of his assiduous assistants, who have in the lusty infancy of our institution, provided that no unnecessary embarrassment shall perplex their successors. A library without a catalogue, if its proportions be in the least respectable, is a labyrinth without a clue. Its treasures may invite the explorer; but while he is compelled to spend the most precious hours of his life in researches which may at last prove fruitless, the library will be to him merely a mockery and discouragement. The walls of many large libraries, could they but speak, might relate a melancholy story of baffled inquiry, and of long and arduous labor lost. Books which are not to be found when they are wanted; books which indeed have a name, but the local habitation of which is uncertain, are worth hardly more than the paper upon which they are printed. The scholars of a coming age will recognize, with gratitude, the scientific basis upon which Mr. Jewett has founded our Catalogue; for such services rendered to literature, inestimable as they are, are sure in themselves of a recollection coexistent with our own institution, and in truth with all great libraries. Foresight like that of which we have had the advantage, necessary as it is both for the use and the preserva

tion of books, would have saved many an immense collection from uselessness, and slow but sure decay. The Public Library of Boston, destined from its beginning for the most popular use, cannot too often multiply the facilities of research. Convenient, though it be not unlimited, access to books is the rigid condition of profitable study; and in almost all branches of culture a wide range of reference must do the work rather than mere reading. He who is able, in the verification of a date, to save an hour, will be able also by that economy of time to prolong and, with the best results, to vary his investigations; and when a student has once acquired, which he can only do in a great library with a good catalogue, the art of handling books, he is helped onward by a dexterity analogous to that of a well-trained mechanic. A single volume may introduce him to many others, and these in turn to others still; until at last he knows all that is to be known, within the limits of wisdom, upon a given subject; and so is prepared intelligently to pursue his original labors. Our Library, much as it would still afford of innocent entertainment, would sink in the estimation of all thoughtful men, did it cease to be the scene of earnest and determined study. It is a part of our duty to see that the enthusiasm of inquiry is not abated by needless obstructions; and that the very opulence of his resources does not deter the young and inexperienced scholar from entering upon their possession. Whatever skill and industry can do in the preparation of catalogues, we are proud to say has either been already attained, or may be reasonably anticipated. If we have been fortunate in the collection of books, we have been fortunate, too, in their custodian.

In conclusion, the Committee may be allowed to quote from the Report of the Superintendent, the following passage: "It is apposite and pleasant to mention here that during this time of general anxiety, the Public Library has been found a ready and most cheering resource, and has been gratefully recognized as such by large numbers of our citizens. Notwithstanding the absence of so many who have left the city as soldiers in the national armies, the number resorting to the Library has constantly and largely increased."

It is not a part of the duty of the Committee to dwell upon the public advantages which are here so lucidly indicated. If it were, we might show with ease how noble are the consolations which, in this season of apprehension, the Library affords. It proffers, indeed, an elevated diversion; but its ameliorations are by no means confined to mere amusement. To a reading class, called in this time of public danger, to a discharge of the most delicate patriotic duties, it affords the teachings of history, the results of human experience, all that is to be learned by observation and all that is to be taught by national vicissitudes. soldier who may at any moment be called to the field, may here prepare himself for the art of war, so far as theory and example may suffice for such preparation. The political servant of the State may here find the wisdom, justice, and prudence which make its annals priceless. The economist, while civil war is wasting the treasures of society, may here acquire that skill which will repair its finances.

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It is certainly within the sphere of our office, to remark, that the condition of the Public Library is in all respects so favorable to its largest and best influences. For this we are indebted to the munificence of its patrons and the fidelity of its keepers. Its past has been prosperous almost beyond precedent; and we accept its good fortune as of good omen. As it has grown, so we may hope that it will continue to increase, not merely numerically, but in a still ascending ratio of religious and intellectual blessings. We take surety of our descendants for their fidelity to all that is manly and womanly, for all that adorns our race and makes society permanent and prosperous, when we send down to them the teachings of science, the record of our race, the refinements of art, and the elegant diversions of literature.

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