During the month of December there were received at the Library by purchase 1,259 volumes and 220 pamphlets, and by gift 1,439 volumes and 3,371 pamphlets. There were catalogued 3,146 books and 2,309 pamphlets, for which purpose 16,958 cards and 1,191 slips for the printer were written.

The following table shows the number of readers and the number of volumes consulted in both the Astor and Lenox branches of the Library during the month:

A gift of $10,000 has been received from Mr. Schiff for the purchase of Semitic literature. The other most important gifts received during the month were: from State of Indiana, 6 volumes and 5 pamphlets; State of Pennsylvania, 190 maps of surveys; Connecticut, 22 volumes; Maine, 11 volumes, and from the different departments of Ontario, 58 volumes and 13 pamphlets. There came in also from the Boston Public Library, 180 volumes of municipal documents; from W. P. Garrison, editor of the "Nation," 370 volumes and 133 pamphlets; Edward D. Adams, 37 volumes and 2 pamphlets; Harvard Club, 14 volumes and 65 pamphlets; Reynolds Library, Rochester, 82 volumes and 9 pamphlets; the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, 4 volumes and 16 pamphlets; Hon. David A. Wells, 3 volumes and 12 pamphlets.

Professor Henry Drisler, Trustee of the New York Public Library from the date of its organization, died November 30th, 1897. He had been a Trustee of the Astor Library since 1876, and was a member of the Library Committee both before and after the consolidation. At a meeting of the Board of Trustees, on

January 12, 1898, Mr. Charles H. Russell was elected a trustee to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Professor Drisler.

It is proposed that hereafter the full annual reports of the Board shall cover the fiscal year ending June 30th, as the report to the State and municipal authorities must be made for this period: hence, no detail report is submitted at the present time.

During the six months, ending June 30th, 1897, the total number of books catalogued and accessioned was 15,770, and of pamphlets, 6,494; and the total number of cards made for the catalogue during this period was 59, 179. In addition there were written 3,318 slips for the printer.

The total number of readers was 57,076, the daily average being 369, and the number of volumes used was 145,287.

The work of completing the files of periodicals has been satisfactorily carried on, and during the last six months 2,560 volumes of journals, transactions and reports of societies required to complete our files have been obtained.

The total number of periodicals and transactions of societies to which this library is subscribing, for the year 1898, is 2,502. Of these 483 are American, 497 British, 595 French, 660 German, 125 Italian, 36 Scandinavian, 27 Belgian, 16 Dutch and 12 Russian.

During the calendar year ending December 31st, 1897, the total number of volumes received by purchase was 16,098, and by gift, 10,128, making a total of 26,226. The total number of volumes catalogued and accessioned during the same period was 29,792. The number of pamphlets actually received during the year, by purchase, was 10,350, by gift, 40,247, and the total number catalogued and accessioned was 15,274.

The total number of cards written during the year was 156,925. In addition to this, 15,404 slips for the printer were written, and for each of these slips five printed cards were obtained.

The total number of cards in the Index Catalogue, which is open to readers, on the 31st of December, 1897, at the Astor Branch was about 80,000, at the Lenox Branch it was 27,800.

The total number of readers during the year was 103,384, and the number of volumes called for by readers' slips, outside of those taken from the free reference shelves, was 304,466.

PLANS OF THE NEW LIBRARY BUILDING.

The floor plans of the new building to be constructed for the New York Public Library are given herewith:

This building is to be about 366 feet long from north to south and 246 feet wide from east to west; 68 feet high from the ground line to the top of the cornice on the centre of the east front and 98 feet high from the ground line to the top of the cornice on the centre of the west front. It is to contain two open courts, each 81 feet square.

The important features of the plan are as follows:

1. A main stack room, 274 feet long, 72 feet wide, and 52 feet 6 inches high, containing seven floors, and having a shelving capacity for 1,250,000 volumes. Access to this stack is provided at each end, and at the centre on the east side from each of the three lower floors of the building, and also from the centre of the reading rooms which are placed on the top of it. The central portions of this stack, on the lower access, will be lighted by electric light.

2. The lending department on the basement floor, the lending delivery room being at the bottom of the north court, 81 feet square, lighted from above, and communicating directly with the lower tier of the main stack room.

3. Three large public reading rooms on the first floor, namely: a children's room 118 x 42 feet; a periodical room 118 x 42 feet; and a newspaper room 92 x 38 feet.

4. Public reading rooms on the upper floor, including two main reading rooms, each 115 x 72 feet; two reading room extensions, with lower ceilings north and south of main reading rooms, each 38 x 92 feet, and a room for public catalogue, open reference shelves, and casual readers, 81 x 67 feet. The whole giving seats for about 800 readers, and being supplied by a central delivery room placed over the centre of the main stack, and communicating with it by book lifts, running from top to bottom.

5. Special reading rooms for scholars and special students on the second floor, including a public document room 38 x 92 feet, a room for Oriental literature 38 x 52 feet, a room for sociology and economics 18 x 48 feet, a room for mathematics and physical and chemical sciences 42 x 77 feet, a map room 42 x 38 feet, a music room 38 x 52 feet, a Bible room and six special study rooms, each about 15 feet square.

6. Picture galleries, Stuart room and other exhibition rooms, freely open to the public, occupying the west front of the upper floor.

7. The grouping of the rooms for administrative offices on the south side of the building. These include: printing office, bindery, packing and shipping rooms on the basement floor; receiving and checking room, business superintendent's offices, etc., on the first floor; director's offices, order room, catalogue room and accession room on the second floor.