From Mr. W, RASMUS: A miscellaneous collection of philatelic catalogues and magazines. From Mr. LEWIS ROBIE : One volume of "Stamp Hunting." The co-operation of all persons interested in Philately is respectfully invited in the work of building up this library. The Section has accomplished most successful work in the formation of a Collection of the stamps of the world for the Institute, courteously assisted by the beneficence of foreign governments and individuals; sets of stamps, envelopes, post-cards, etc., varying in number and value, have been contributed as follows: Mr. J. ARTHUR WAINWRIGHT, of the American Philatelic Association. Postmaster-General of Canada. Postmaster-General of Newfoundland. Colonial Postmaster of Bermuda. Postmaster of Bahamas. The Honorable Postmaster-General of Tasmania. The Honorable Postmaster-General of New South Wales. The Colonial Postmaster of Sierra Leone. The Honorable Postmaster-General of New Zealand. Postmaster for Jamaica. The Colonial Postmaster of British Honduras. Colonial Postmaster of St. Lucia. Director-General of Posts of Mexico. Postmaster-General of Egypt. Postmaster-General of British Guiana. The Honorable Postmaster-General of Queensland. Postmaster of Turks Islands. Postmaster of Falkland Islands. The Honorable Director-General of Posts and Telegraphs of Hungary. Director-General of Posts for Costa Rica. The Honorable Director-General of Posts and Telegraphs of Roumania. His Excellency the Governor-General of the State of Portuguese India. Mr. THOMAS T. ECKERT, President of the Western Union Telegraph Co. Colonial Postmaster of Lagos. Colonial Postmaster of Damsle, W. I. Director-General of Honduras. An invitation is cordially extended to philatelists residing in all parts of the world to contribute to the Institute Collection. Gifts of private collections would be highly appreciated. It is intended that this collection shall be mounted in specially designed cases and placed on permanent exhibition in the Museum Building on Eastern Parkway. THE INSTITUTE LIBRARY. The Library of the Institute comprises about 27,000 volumes, and constitutes the oldest public library in Brooklyn. Formed originally in large part of gifts by public-spirited citizens of the old Brooklyn village, it contains much that is valuable in the way of local history, and many volumes valuable for their age and rarity. It is especially rich in first American editions, and possesses unusually full collections of travels and explorations, and of old French and English plays. The character of the collection is, however, general, and the whole field of literature, in its broad sense, is represented with tolerable impartiality. As soon as suitable library rooms can again be secured, the general library will be placed in use. It is free to any responsible resident of New York City. The libraries of the Departments, some of which possess valuable special collections, are for consultation at the Museum Building. The Institute received on the first day of June, 1894, through the generosity of a number of its members, the library of the late Rev. FREDERICK A. FARLEY, D.D., for many years a member of the Institute, and the pastor, personal friend and advisor of AUGUSTUS GRAHAM, the Founder of the Institute, from the time of the removal of the Institute from its first building at the corner of Henry and Cranberry streets to Washington street, until the Founder's death. The clause in the will of AUGUSTUS GRAHAM providing for the Sunday evening Lectures on "The Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of God as Manifested in His Works," was written by Dr. FARLEY after Mr. GRAHAM had made known to him, in a general way, his wishes with regard to the endowment of the Institute. It is most appropriate, therefore, that the friends of the late Dr. FARLEY should have purchased the entire library and the cases containing it, and have presented them to the Institute. The library contains sixteen hundred volumes on History and Literature, all of them choice and valuable works, and many of them rare and of exceptional value. The conditions on which the library is presented and received are that it shall be kept together for use as a library of reference, and be placed in the Museum Building, when erected, in an alcove by itself, and be designated as the FREDERICK A. FARLEY LIBRARY. From the Brooklyn Philharmonic Society the Institute received in 1896 a most valuable gift, comprising 6,610 volumes of Choral Works, in sets suitable for the production of oratorios and other musical compositions in the Academy of Music. A list of these works is given on page 182 of the Year Book of 1895-6. From Members of the Institute about nine hundred volumes have been received during the year for the use of the several Departments. The Library now contains twenty-seven thousand volumes and twenty eight hundred pamphlets, and is arranged on shelving at the Bedford Park Building and at the Museum Building. It is but natural that the development of the library of the Institute should be in connection with the general educational work which the Institute is doing through its various Departments. Several large and valuable libraries have grown up in the city since the foundation of the Institute Library, each serving its own special functions. A library administered in close relation with the liberally extended educational work of the Institute has a very special and unique opportunity for usefulness, such as is not possessed by the usual forms of public libraries More and more it is being recognized that public libraries are great engines, powerful for injury or infinite benefit, according to the books they contain and the use that is made of them. interest the public in great and important subjects is the high function of the Institute; to supply, while the appetite To |