LIBRARY REPORTS MORE STUDENTS USING BOOKS

An increasing interest in serious matters on the part of students, and a corresponding increase in the desire to find and make use of the knowledge which may be obtained from books is indicated in the increase in the use of the College Library, according to the opinion of the Library committee expressed in the committee's annual report to the faculty.

"In the last three years the college community, students and faculty have not greatly increased in size," the committee stated. "On the other hand the number of books issued at the main delivery desk in Wilson Hall increased from 21,500 in 1920-1921 to 27,700 in 1921-1922, and to 32,946 in 1922-1923. It must be remembered further that these figures do not take into account the use of books in the library building, nor in the reference room and in departmental libraries."

Expenditures for books, periodicals, and binding during the year 1922-1923 amounted to $28,776.50, according to the committee's report, and 10,297 books were added. Books added by purchases totaled 7024, books added by binding 2099, and books added by gift 1174. Extensive purchases were made for the Department of Philosophy, and the Department of Art, including material on City Planning, the works of notable illustrators, and important examples of fine book design.

Large purchases were also made for the departments of French and English. The books in French were largely selected by Professor P. O. Skinner, chairman of the Department, who spent the last semester in France on sabbatical leave.