fforts made to build up an approximately
complete collection of works on industrial and decorative subjects,
the report states that in this way "the library is gradually becoming
the possessor of a scientifically selected set of volumes and plates
which cannot fail to leave a distinct impress on the character of the
work done in the various industries of the city." Another portion of
the same report illustrates the direct service rendered by such an
institution to the interests of the municipality. To quote the
language there used, "Instances of the last named, both striking and
tangible, are of by no means exceptional occurrence, sometimes an
application of this kind being presented from more than one city
official on the same day," the foregoing having reference to the city
in question. "A well-authenticated instance," it continues, "in one of
the largest cities of the country, of the saving of a sum of many
thousand dollars, in the matter of a contract, due to the opportunity
for consulting the requisite data comprised in works of authority in
the public library of that city, is but an indication of the
possibilities of a public library."

It is fitting that where funds are to be appropriated, collected by
taxes levied on the tax-paying population, there should be possible so
tangible a presentation as the above, of the direct relation of the
institution supported, to the question of "profit and loss," as
affecting those who are taxed. And yet it is well to remember that it is
as true now as twenty centuries ago, that "man does not live by bread
alone;" and that the public support of the institutions referred to can
be justified by other arguments than that of the material interests just
cited.

No aspect of the library's operation is more full of interest than
that which takes account of its uplifting influence. The analogy between
its service and that of the postal system has been noticed; but it has a
no less real analogy to the work of the school, the pulpit, or the
press--yet without the propagandist principle which so often attaches to
these latter--namely, in the principle of growth or advance. In the
earlier portion of this paper a little space was devoted to showing that
in the nature of the case the number of copies of any work of fiction
used in the course of a year would immensely out-number those which
could possibly be read in the more solid departments of reading. Even
were the constituency of the li