Mr. 'E. Ward atri ed just at id his name was ad ed to tlemen elected ax members of the Committee.
Mr. Hour enquired wh books were elected here by the Committee or whether matter wns left entirely to the London agent?
Secretary that it ly to the agent in London, Ocexsionally he (Mr. Morrison) had written for special works, but he had generally just iven him an idea of the kind of books Sometimes he had objected to some that had been sent, but had had no reason tu desolately. It was of very little use to attempt to select volumes here. Fae were sure to be at least two months eh Hour had asked the ques! because he very seldom saw any books in the Library from his side of the water, He ing papers from the reviews of new books, but he did not find these books in the Library. He never had an opportunity of soving them if he wanted to.
The Secretary thought that if the Committee wished to buy American books it would be better to get them through Messrs. Kelly and Walsh than to obtain them from London.
Mr. Herr said that discount could Iwvays be obtained from American publio houses.
The Seorerary replied that Me: Kelly and Walsh had once offered to supply American works at their London published prices, which, however, wns not any great saving. The discount was obtained, it wns true, but the freight had to be paid, and that amounted to much the same
supplied them fairly well, and he (Mr. thing, Besides, the London agent almaye Morrison) did not like to take anything away from him.
Mr. Herr mentioned that Messrs, Scribner & Ca. had established a sort of literary agency, and besides that published a great many works themselves, Dr. Holland, the "editor of Soribuer's Magazines, one of the leading magazines, not only of the United States, but of the world, reviewed most of those that were agency himeelf, and offered by Mess, Scribner them-were certainly liberal. They offered cent, discount on all their own publi-Harper Brothers offered 40 por and other houses offered equally liberal terms, If price lists could be obtained, he should suggest that some orders might be sent to one or other of these firms direct, Dr. Macauwan suid that when ho was on the Committee of the Library, he had alwaysfeltadelicacy ubout getting Americnn aubscribei ww the names of 80 fow of works, because on looking over the list of
his countrymen, and besides this: he cor-tainly should refrain on_ principle from obtaining American reprints of English bouks, He could never suction anything that deprived literary men of the fruits of their labours, all ecessury to say that the Com-orary said he thought it was
mittee did not propose to draw or pay off any debentures this year, The Cuareman asked if there w: not any application to be made to the cipal Council this year in consideration of the Library being free to the public?
Szorerany anid that he did not think it we 1d be of any use applying to the Recreation Fund Committee. After a time he thought that he would probably get Tis, 1 Ow year from them, or somer!" like that, Ife hud not applied Municipal Council.
The Cuarmatay thought that it woald quite as right to vote some money fur the Library, as for a Band.
The Secretary said he would see Mr. Little, and find out whether an applicati to the Council was likely to be suc ce:
Mr. Hour suggested that an application should be made to the Council, and if it was refused, the matter could be referred to at the ubxt Ratepayers' meeting, and the grounds of the refusal made known to the public.
Secaerany said that he thought many people had an idea that a Library such as this should be self-supporting inde quite sure if he had not ch idea 'Cramaan said that a public library should be self-supporting under certain circumstances; but it must be remembered that this was' thrown open to the public. In all the large cities in Europe and America there were libraries endowed
did not see why Shanghai more or less by the polo funds, and he would be behind the times in this respe
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.