rooms in both the Astor and Lenox are now well lighted by electricity, and the lower ranges of shelves in the Astor are sufficiently lighted to obtain books therefrom. In the upper part of the Astor it has not been possible, within reasonable expenditure, to introduce light, so that books cannot be obtained from these shelves after 4 P. M., in the winter.

3. Open reference shelves have been introduced in both libraries, on which many thousand books are open to the public freely, without the necessity of applying at the desk, which number of books it is intended steadily to increase.

4. The newest books at the Astor are placed on the desk in a special case open to the public view to give information as to the latest publications received.

5. The space formerly occupied by the catalogue department in the South Hall of the Astor has been removed to the first floor, and this space has been devoted to periodicals, the south reading room being also largely devoted to periodicals. The number of periodicals taken is increased, and the Library now receives over 3,000 of all kinds. A certain number of these are placed in an open reference case in the periodical room where readers can help themselves. This greatly relieves the crowd around the delivery desk in the center room.

6. At the Lenox the capacity of the reading-room has been doubled by the opening of a new reading-room at the north end for local history, genealogy and music, the books on these subjects at the Astor having been transferred to the Lenox.

7. Book lifts have been put in, both at the Astor and the Lenox, to increase the rapidity of service. The seats in the reading-room have been numbered, so that each reader can have his books sent to his numbered seat, as is done in the British Museum.

8. A subject catalogue on cards is in progress, which contains all the new books, and to which the old books are being added as rapidly as possible. This is the most effective improvement in progress, and at the same time the most expensive and difficult to complete. About one-half of the old books in the Library are now reclassified and catalogued in this subject catalogue. During the year 1898, 32,835 volumes and 21,074 pamphlets were catalogued and accessioned, making a total of 53,909. In the Boston Public Library the number of titles. written in the catalogue department last year was 36,032, and in the same period in the British Museum it was 42,828.

9. A special attendant has been placed in charge of the open reference shelves at the Astor, whose duty it is to assist readers generally, to call attention to the shelves, and to aid in using the catalogue. It has been found that the services of this attendant are very highly appreciated.

10. A bindery on a moderate scale has been established at the Astor, which is chiefly devoted to repairing.

11. In the course of the reclassification of the Library a number of duplicates have been discovered, and a very considerable number of duplicates have also been received by gift. All such duplicates which appear to be suitable works for a circulating department have been carefully put aside separately for the use of such department in the future.

12. The publication of a monthly bulletin was commenced in January, 1897. Two volumes have now been published, and the substance and style of the publication has met with very general interest and approval among librarians and the public, and it is rapidly becoming a valuable medium of exchange with foreign institutions.

13. There are now at work in the Library twenty-one persons—one man and twenty women-who are learning the business of cataloguing, shelf listing, etc., by practical work in the several departments, accepting the instruction which they receive in lieu of compensation. It appears that the persons who are being thus instructed, as well as the Library, are the gainers by this, inasmuch as the time which a skilled cataloguer devotes to teaching these apprentices is more than compensated by the very considerable amount of work in copying, alphabetizing, filing cards, etc., which the pupils do in the course of their apprenticeship.

14. In 1897, what may be termed a library club was organized among the members of the staff, and meetings are held once a month in the evening. Various problems connected with library management are discussed, and especially questions of immediate interest to our Library. These meetings have been largely attended, have had an excellent influence in educating the younger members of the staff, and are of much interest to all.

The expenses of the Library exhaust its present income, taking into consideration the gaps to be filled in many departments, and the expensive "back work," in cataloguing and classifying, to be done. From this point of view, and particularly in view of the fact that we shall move from the present buildings within some reasonable time, it is doubtful whether anything of moment in the line of further extension or improvement can be expected with the present buildings. Any considerable increased use of the present libraries must apparently be by way of increased hours which, of course, implies the expense of increased service, besides considerable new plant, a large part of which will be a dead loss on removing to the new building. An estimate has been furnished the Committee, at the request of the Director, showing the cost of opening the Astor and Lenox reading rooms for three hours longer each evening, viz., only from 6 to 9, with the following result:

We are spending more than our annual income in order to get the Library properly catalogued and classified before moving, and such extra expenses must be continued for at least two years more. In view of this fact, and of the heavy expense which appears to be necessarily incident to opening the Library in the evenings, we are constrained to advise the Trustees that it is inexpedient to attempt to open either building at night. It might possibly be wise to open at least a portion of the Astor Building in the evening, as being the one most used, for some months immediately prior to moving to the new building.

It is a matter of great regret that the privileges of alcove readers have necessarily been curtailed at the Astor Building from actual want of space, and that it may be necessary to withdraw this privilege entirely. This will be a serious deprivation to many scholars whom the Public Library desires to serve; but fortunately such a deprivation will be but temporary.

NUMBER OF READERS.

The changes and improvements here outlined, accompanied by a rapid growth in the number of books, has largely increased the number of readers at both buildings. In the two Libraries in 1894 there were about 66,500 readers, who called for 243,700 books. In 1898, there were 106,000 readers, who called for 367,800 books, besides making very extensive use of the open reference shelves, of which, of course, there is no record.

On Saturday, February 18, 1899, there were in the Astor Building 395 readers, who called for 1,665 volumes, the greatest number on any one day in the history of the Library. Increase of readers is necessarily now checked because no further room can be provided for them, the limit of accommodation in the present building being exhausted. No further seats for readers can be supplied, and the capacity of the building for books is heavily taxed.

RESULTS OF CONSOLIDATION.

We have attached hereto certain schedules showing the expenses of the accessions, the attendance and various matters of interest by way of comparison, affecting our Library, the British Museum, the Bibliothèque Nationale and the Boston Public Library, which may be found interesting, and a comparative table, making comparison on several of these points, between the New York Public Library, the British Museum, the Boston Public Library, and the Congressional Library.

Entirely apart from the actual changes and improvements, and the growth, actual and relative, in books and readers, the results of consolidation and awakened interest have been apparent in every department of the libraries.

The Trustees will remember that, at the origin of the consolidation, it was thought prudent to secure a certain representation to the several libraries in the organization of the respective committees, and in the conduct of the affairs of the new corporation. They will recall with satisfaction that all such considerations. have long since ceased to have the faintest weight, and that now no regard is paid to the particular needs of either of the three original corporations except as affecting the public interest.

The funds and material of each of the libraries have since the consolidation been fairly and intelligently devoted to increasing the uses of the Consolidated Library as a whole, with marked success, and with constantly increasing confidence from the public. This has been accomplished without friction in the Board, and with singular unanimity of opinion, especially when we bear in mind the many and varied subjects which have arisen or which have been under discussion.

It would be difficult in any moderate space fully to refer to all the proofs that the consolidation and improvements in administration have been appreciated by the public, and met by gifts, interest and increased use of the Library.

Apart from such large and valuable gifts as the Emmet Collection (the gift of Mr. Kennedy) and the Ford Collection (the gift of Messrs. Worthington and Paul Leicester Ford), many other valuable gifts of collections and rare books have constantly been made. One legacy of ten thousand dollars has already been given, and in addition every Trustee is aware of daily and constantly recurring manifestations of public interest and good-will.

All this has operated most effectively upon the staff of the Library, and the awakened and increasing interest and the quickened intelligence of the entire staff are most satisfactory.

It is moreover true that consolidation, increased resources and effective direction have enormously improved the general reputation and position of the Library as an educational agent, and in public consideration abroad. The readiness of the public authorities of other States, cities and countries, and the foreign representatives of the United States, to aid us in obtaining reports and publications shows an increased public estimate of the value of the work in which we are engaged.

It would be a matter of great injustice if due credit were not given to the Director, Dr. Billings, for the distinguished part he has taken in every improvement of administration, and for his large contribution to the present position of the Library.

When reference is made to the improvements effected, and the general improvement in tone, it must be clearly understood that no criticism or blame for past conditions is implied or intended. The difficulties and shortcomings of both. the Astor and the Lenox were largely the result of having reached the limit of their possible development with the funds at their disposal, and under the then existing surroundings.

Organized as they were, and while invaluable to a class of students, they failed to excite public interest and to attract individual support; for nothing can compel large and increasing public interest except adequate endowment and the

resulting capacity to keep entirely abreast of the public demands. This, of course, both the Astor and the Lenox Libraries absolutely lacked. It was difficult, and often impossible, for either to keep up with the necessary purchases, the increasing demands for periodicals, and other publications. It was never possible for either to properly catalogue and make accessible their purchases, to extend their hours, or to provide the necessary assistance. Such a situation was rapidly becoming intolerable, and the Trustees of both the existing libraries were helpless. If each proceeded with its own scheme of general development much duplication would necessarily arise, with a corresponding waste of funds and energy. If the Astor, the more general Library, could have succeeded in obtaining the funds needed to enrich its collection and permanently secure its position, the value of the collection would have imperatively demanded an improved fire-proof structure, which could not have been supplied except at a prohibitive cost.

If, in the face of the difficulties attending these two existing corporations, the Tilden Trust had proceeded to establish a third library, all these serious questions would have been repeated and multiplied.

If nothing had been done, the public authorities might have thought it necessary to establish still another Library, which at least would have possessed a dignified and safe library building.

Looking back four years, the experience of that period has plainly justified the prevision of the Trustees of the three consolidating corporations. The added endowment, which has come from the Tilden benefaction, has enabled the existing stores of books to be made accessible to readers; it has given opportunity for keeping the collections fairly up to the times; and it has supplied the means for greatly increasing the comfort and convenience of readers. Beyond, and more important than all this, the consolidation and change of name has enabled those conducting the New York Public Library to present it to the public and to the city authorities as an institution existing for the welfare of all the citizens of the metropolis, and appealing for support to all who are interested in the spread of learning. What the result of such a policy may prove to be in future can only be conjectured. In the four years which have passed the fact that the city authorities, with the unanimous approbation of the Legislature, have set apart a site, and have agreed to spend two and a half million dollars of money in erecting an adequate and permanent home for the Library, abundantly fulfills the hopes with which the consolidation was undertaken.

March 8th, 1899.

JOHN L. CADWALADER,

Chairman.