Brothers and Sisters,-by Miss Bremer. Moral and Religious Duties of Husbands and Wives, A New Flower for Children,-by Mrs. Child. Lincoln's History of Worcester, Anecdotes of Dogs, Pictorial History of England. Vol. 1. Scott's Chronicles of the Canongate, Rena,-by Mrs. Hentz. Olmsted's Journey in the Back Country. Additions have been made to the library, by purchase and donations, and if these have not been all that could be desired, the pressure of the times certainly affords a reasonable excuse. Seven hundred and thirty-five (735) volumes have been added by purchase during the year. While many of them are of the current literature of the day, the list includes many standard works. While the Book Committee have sought to gratify the popular demand for new books, they have not forgotten or overlooked the permanent wants of the library. Eighteen hundred and eighty-three volumes have been added by donation; of these sixteen hundred (1600) volumes have been added by Dr. Green. It is sufficient to say of Dr. Green's additions, that they fully sustain the character of his previous choice collection. Among them may be found many rare old works, treatises on Theology and Religion; finely illustrated and costly works: such as the Versailles Gallery and Jardine's Naturalist's Library, in forty volumes, with colored plates; sets of periodicals and publications of learned and scientific societies. The other donations have been as follows: Mr. Hoar's donation comprised the two final volumes of the Encyclopædia Britannica, and twenty-five additional volumes of the new Boston edition of the British Poets; both being continuations of previous gifts. Mr. Thayer's public documents included the valuable American State Papers in 17 vols. folio, and Mr. Sumner's the twelve volumes of the Pacific Railroad Exploration. Mr. Higginson's gift included a complete file of the Boston Liberator for twelve years back, and a folio copy of the Massachusetts Colonial Charter and Laws,-edition of 1726. We are indebted to our School Superintendent, Mr. Jones, for the six last reports of the State Board of Education, and to Mr. Capen, Secretary of the Boston School Committee, for similar volumes of Boston School Documents. The Trustees of the Boston Public Library have kindly presented a copy of their invaluable Catalogue, which will be a model for all similar works during years to come. The most important of these donations however, has been that of A. McF. Davis, Esq., who has presented to the city an exceedingly valuable collection of books in a very important department. Having devoted much time to the study of engineering, Mr. Davis had made a collection of the best books, in English and French, on this and kindred topics. These books, to the number of sixtyseven volumes, he now presents to the library. They are in good order and binding, and accompanied by some large volumes of plates; and they extend over pure Mathematics, applied Chemistry, Hydraulics, Road making, Railroads, Bridges, &c., thus covering a range of topics for which the library is often consulted. Valuable in itself, this donation is yet more valuable as an example. Books which, when locked in a private book case, are useful only to one, may, if intrusted to a public institution, extend their benefits to many. Before the re-opening of the Circulating Library a new catalogue was imperatively necessary. This was prepared principally by Miss C. P. Hawes, under the direction of the Committee on the Library. In the preparation and printing of this catalogue, four hundred and twenty-seven dollars ($427) of our scanty appropriation were expended. Most of this will be refunded from the sale of catalogues, as it was thought best to print a large edition,-to last for several years, during which it is proposed that the annual additions shall be appended to the Reports. The catalogue is a volume of 186 pages, containing the names of 5,700 volumes, alphabetically arranged, and designated by their authors, titles and subjects. The works of the same author are given under his name; books upon the same or similar subjects are grouped together, and the title of each book is also found in its alphabetical arrangement. A Numerical Catalogue for the use of the Librarians was also found necessary, which has been prepared with great care and neatness by Mrs. Baker. It is also very necessary that a full written catalogue of the Green Library should be prepared, a printed one not being absolutely essential, and also far beyond our means at the present time. At present, the chief guide to the library is the memory of the Librarian. It is worthy of consideration whether the employment of an additional assistant, temporarily at least, may not be advisable, who shall attend upon the readers in the Green Library, and also devote all spare moments to cataloguing. The Green Library now numbers nine thousand one hundred (9,100) volumes, and the Circulating Library five thousand seven hundred and eighty (5,780) volumes. It is in accordance with the design of the institution to afford accommodations so far as possible within the Library Building for various literary and scientific Societies of the city. Accordingly arrangements have been made, mutually satisfactory, by which the Worcester District Medical Society and the Worcester Natural History Society have accepted rooms in the Building. The Worcester District Medical Society has taken the rooms over the Circulating Library and fitted them with shelvings and otherwise in a corresponding style. The Library of this society originated in donations from individuals collected by a committee appointed in the year 1814, of which Dr. John Green was the active member. To the nucleus thus formed were added a few books from the Massachusetts Medical Society. In 1845 the Library was placed upon a permanent basis by a bequest from Hon. Daniel Waldo, who during his life had been its largest contributor, of six thousand dollars ($6,000) "the principal of which is to be kept safely invested, and the income perpetually appropriated to the purchase and care of books for a Medical Library.” This Library is to be always kept in the city of Worcester and to be the property of the Worcester District Medical Society, but is to be open at all times, to the profession at large of Worcester County. In 1851, the funds of the Society were farther increased by a legacy of five hundred dollars ($500) from Dr. Charles W. Wilder, of Leominster. This library now contains thirty-five hundred volumes, carefully selected by the Society. Most of the books are of a medical character, although the Library is by no means confined to such. Whatever is new and valuable in this country or Europe, upon medicine in all its branches, Natural History, Hygiene and kindred topics, is secured by the Society. The high talent of the gentlemen composing the Society, and the ample means at their disposal, afford a guarantee that this library, already one of the best in that department, in the state, will fully retain its position. By the arrangements referred to, this library is now thrown open to the public under the supervision of our Librarian, and subject to the regulations and restrictions which govern the Green Library. The cabinets of the Worcester Natural History Society are now being arranged in the hall in the basement story appropriated for that purpose, and the public will be surprised to find that so large and beautiful a display of nat |