community, has been unaccountably neglected.  The subject is now receiving the earnest thought of the best people of the city.  Considerable difference of opinion exists as to the best method of founding and supporting such an institution.  Some argue that this should be done by the city alone, holding that the self-respecting workingman and workingwoman will never patronize a free library instituted solely by private charity.  Others urge that such an institution to be successful should be free from city control and entirely the result of private munificence.  The latter gentlemen have added to the cogency of their arguments by a practical demonstration.  Early in 1880 they organized on a small scale a free circulating library which should exist solely by the benefactions of the public, with the object of furnishing free reading at their homes to the people.  The general plan adopted was a central library, with branches in the various wards, by this means bringing the centres of distribution within easy reach of the city’s homes.  The success of the institution has been such that its development should be carefully followed.  It began operations by leasing two rooms of the old mansion, No. 36 Bond Street, and in March, 1880, “moved in,” opening with a few hundred volumes donated chiefly from the libraries of its projectors.  The first month—­March—­1044 volumes were circulated.  By October this had grown to 4212.  The next year—­1881-82—­the circulation reached 69,280, and it continued to increase until in 1883 it reached 81,233,—­an increase of nearly 10,000 over the preceding year.  In May, 1883, the library was removed to the comfortable and roomy building, No. 49 Bond Street, which had been purchased and fitted up for it by the trustees.  Early in December, 1884, the Ottendorfer Library, at 135 Second Avenue, the first of the projected branch libraries, was opened with 8819 volumes, 4784 of which were in English and 4035 in German, the whole, with the library building, being the gift of Mr. Oswald Ottendorfer, of New York.  The branch proved equally popular, having circulated during the past year—­1885—­97,000 volumes, while the circulation of the main library has increased to 104,000 volumes, the combined circulation of both libraries exceeding that of any other in the city.  The percentage of loss has been only one book for 31,768 circulated.  The report of the treasurer shows that the annual expenses of the library—­about twelve thousand dollars—­have been met by voluntary contributions, and that it has a permanent fund of about thirty-two thousand dollars besides its books.  These figures prove that libraries of this character will be appreciated, and used by the people.  The library committee say, in their last report, that after four years’ experience they feel competent to begin the establishment of branch libraries, and observe that at least six of these centres of light and intelligence should be opened in various quarters of the city.  It is understood that lack of funds alone prevents the institution from entering on this wider field.  When one considers the liberal and too often indiscriminate charities of the metropolis, and reflects that the need and utility of this excellent enterprise have been demonstrated, it seems impossible that pecuniary obstacles will long be allowed to stand in the way of its legitimate development.