, because they were the original sources of knowledge in his
profession. The libraries which we have styled "professional" are
compelled to spend large sums on these issues, which were once styled
"ephemeral," but are now found to be of lasting value.

Under these circumstances, why not have a library of this periodical
literature? Just as some men refuse to read translations, learning a new
language if a book they need is printed in a tongue unknown to them, so
let us reject summaries and accumulate original materials. As to the
cost of such a library, the five thousand important periodicals which
are said to be published will require probably $30,000 a year for their
purchase, and if as much more is added for rent, binding, salaries,
etc., we have an income required which demands a capital of more than a
million dollars, to say nothing of half a million for back numbers!

Some readers may be curious to know what chance there is of making a
collection that shall be fairly representative of the world's
literature. We can safely answer, _none_. Herr Hottinger, who has
issued the prospectus of a universal catalogue of all books published,
thinks there are about three million titles, and his critics say this
estimate is too low. Twenty-five thousand new works are said to be
added each year to this number. Now the largest number of _volumes_
(and therefore a less number of titles) added to libraries in this
country yearly, is: Boston Public Library, 18,000; Philadelphia
Mercantile, 17,004; Congressional, 15,400; Chicago Public, 11,331;
Cincinnati Public, 11,398; New York Mercantile, 8,000; and Harvard,
7,000. The numbers reported by the Mercantile and public libraries are
of little value, since these institutions often buy a dozen or a score
copies of a popular work. It is therefore evident that no library in
this country is even attempting to keep up with the current issue of
books.

It has been found impossible to estimate, with any degree of accuracy,
the amount of money spent on new books by the libraries, as more than
half of them fail to make any report on this point. Permanent funds,
amounting to $6,105,581, are held by 358 libraries, and 1,364 have none;
1,960 make no report. The endowments are divided very unevenly among the
classes, as this table shows:

_Number Reporting._ _Amount._

Educational 54 $775,801
Professional 54