, 1877-03-17

AO0AoS AAONf ~ 49, WV
found advisable to publish various items
of information in the form Of REPORTS, or
In periodical TRANSACTIONS, which would
be exchanged with those OF similar socie-
ties IN other places; while commGnlca-
tlons, minutes or memoranda of a more
general character might be forwarded for
publication to the various local papers.
The LIBRARY Of the Institution might
be accumulated gradually at a compare
lively small annual outlay. The value Of
a good industrial library. as an educational
agent, is immense ; yet it would be sur
prlslng, to those unacquainted with the
subject, what q small outlay will suffice
to form the BASIS of a good library, when
systematically collected. Almost every
thing depends, however, upon the Libra
rian, and there are few men competent to
form a local industrial collection which
shall be both attractive and usefuI-which
will tend to make students as we'll as to
help them. A nucleus for the Library is
at hand in the publications of "Her Ma
iesty's Commissioners of Patents" which,
being presented to the Colony for public
reference, would ind their natural home
in the Library of the Institution. (lO)
These and a number of other works OF re-
ference should not, under any circum-
stances, be allowed to be taken out OF the
Library. Other works should be freely
lent to the members with the usual pre-
cautions, and of those most in demand two
or more copies should be furnished. (ll)
The READING ROOM, which would be
attached to the Library, should be supplied
with caretuIly-selectel periodical p%nbllca-
tions OF a practical character. 1t cannot
be too strongly urged that the reason why
many reading rooms are not trequented
by those for whose benefit they have
been instituted, lies in the manner In
which they are furnished and conducted,
as much as in the want OF q sufficient
amount of education to enable their
would-be frequenterS to appreciate their
value. 1t is comparatively common to
find, in England, the reading-rooms OF
Mechanics Institutions supplied with such
periodicals as. for instance. BldcklUood and
the British W0rkman-the notion apparent
ly being that what is infs'asIcaIly good
must suit every coastitution-to the exc!u-
sion Of, say, the English Mechanic and the
Practice! Magazine. 1t should be remem-
bered that the proper place for such pub
locations as BLack,vood is in the public
reading.room, aad the British Workman
ought to be found at the rooms OF the
Young Mems Christian Association The
rooms of our Institution would, OF course,
be open IN the evenings, and only let this
department be conducted Gas everything
connected with the Institution must be, to
succeedJ on a strictly scientific method and
the writer will guarantee that the Popu-
larity and prosperity of the Institution
will surprise those who, on insufficient
grounds, attribute a want Of a desire for
intellectual improvement to the industrial
classes. What they want is such Scientl'
fc knowledge as is Of a thoroughly prac-
teal tendency ; and wherever the expert
ment has been made of supplying it, the
demand has exceeded the most sangulne
expectations. 1t may be safely predicted
that in q West Indian colony l%eavened
with English sentiments there will be
found to be real germs OF industrial I'M
provement-sterliOg qualities OF great pro-
mise-only wanting judicious fostering
and careful practical training on scientific
flol These publications alone are worth
- an mn