The number of pamphlets received was 75,502, of which 8,870 were purchases and 66,632 were gifts. In the Circulation Department there came as gifts 3,158 volumes and 1,192 pamphlets.

In addition to those mentioned above, the most important gifts of books during the year were the following:

From Mrs. T. J. Coolidge, of Boston, Mass., a copy of "Thomas Jefferson, Architect. Original designs in the collection of Thomas Jefferson Coolidge, Jr., with an essay and notes by Fiske Kimball." Boston, printed for private distribution at the Riverside Press, Cambridge, 1916.

Mr. Louis de Sadeleer, Minister of State for Belgium, gave the Library a collection of material relating to Belgium and the War, containing 212 volumes and 884 pamphlets.

Mr. Gordon Ireland, of New York, presented a collection of Journals on "Philately," 547 pieces in all.

Mr. Alexander Gourvitch, of New York, gave a collection of books, periodicals, newspapers, etc., including the French Socialist paper "L'Humanité," for the years 1914-1916; Gustave Hervé's "La Guerre Sociale," October, 1911– 1913; "La Voix du Peuple," the syndicalist paper, from 1911-1913; and various Russian revolutionary documents in all 139 volumes, 188 pamphlets and 4 packages of newspapers.

From the Biblioteca Nacional, of Chile, were received a collection of books relating to the history, industries and literature of Chile, including government documents, in all 302 volumes and 91 pamphlets.

The principal exhibition of the year was one illustrating the history of the water supply of the City of New York from 1639 to 1917, installed in the Main Exhibition Room. It was the most important systematic exhibition on the subject held in the City to commemorate the completion of the Catskill Aqueduct. In connection with this exhibition a pamphlet was issued describing the plan of the exhibition and giving an historical outline of the City's sources of water supply. The exhibition included books, pamphlets, public documents, maps, profiles, manuscripts, and other material owned by the Library; paintings, photographs, reliefs and other models, profiles and borings from the Board of Water Supply; historical relief maps from the American Museum of Natural History; manuscripts and other articles from the Bank of the Manhattan Company; an interesting section of an old wooden water main from the Engineers Club; etc. It was opened to the public on May 1, and continued until November 6, with an attendance of 101,878.

On December 20 another exhibition was opened to the public in the Main Exhibition Room, consisting of the Library's own examples of writing on stone, clay, metals, goat-skins, palm leaves, bark, and other materials; illuminated Oriental and European manuscripts; block books and early printed books, to illustrate the development of writing and printing. The exhibition also includes rare Americana relating to discovery, exploration and settlement; Jefferson's autographic copy of the Declaration of Independence, the original manuscript of Washington's Farewell Address, folios and quartos of Shakespeare, etc. This exhibition will remain on view probably until next autumn.

During the year the following bibliographies were compiled and published by the Library: Reference Department: Scientific Management, Stage Scenery, Diplomatic History of the European War, Early American Poetry to 1820, Supplement to the list on Prints and Their Production, Dehydrated Foods, Torpedoes, Assyria and Babylonia, War Taxation, 1914–1917. Circulation Department: Patriotism, List of Piano Music, The New York of the Novelists, Sea and Shore, Fairy Tales for Grown-up Readers, Wanderers and Vagabonds, Books of Interest to Women Voters.

While in the Circulation Department no new Branch Libraries were opened during the year, four Sub-branches were established, under the direction of the Travelling Libraries Office. Three of these were in The Bronx, at Williamsbridge, Van Nest and Fordham, and one in the Borough of Richmond, at West New Brighton. More books have been issued from some of these Sub-branches than from some of our smaller regular Branches.

Toward the close of the year a site for a new Branch Library was acquired in the Fordham district. The plot is about 200 feet north of Fordham Road, has a frontage of 76 feet on Marion and Bainbridge Avenues, running through from street to street with a depth of about 145 feet.

Through the courtesy of the Board of Trustees of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, seventeen paintings from the Museum's collection were placed on exhibition at our Chatham Square Branch in the spring. In connection with the exhibition an annotated catalogue was prepared by the Museum for distribution to the public. This opportunity for the people of the district to see good examples of painting has been so much appreciated that it is hoped it may be possible to arrange for similar exhibitions at other Branches.

The most notable thing in connection with the work of the year in both Departments of the Library is war work in its various phases. Allusion has already been made to some features of this work in the Central Library. It is impossible here to give any adequate idea of the amount and scope of such work as has been going on continually. Research workers have been busy in every Division of the Reference Department. Many of them have told us again and again that they secured here information and data which they could not obtain elsewhere.

Contrary to its general rule of excluding all advertising or notices of outside activities, the Library has allowed patriotic war agencies of all kinds. to place posters in various parts of the Central Building and in the Branch Libraries. It has also taken an active part in the sale of Liberty Bonds, War Savings Stamps, and the collection of money and books for camp libraries. The two public entrances to the Central Building are now practically lined with the posters, desks, or booths of patriotic war agencies. The Branch Libraries have assisted these activities, and have distributed hundreds of thousands of circulars.

Since our country entered the war in April there has been a marked demand at the Branches for books on military training, technique, etc., requiring the purchase of an increased supply of books on these subjects.

When the State Military Census was taken in June, many of the Branches gave a portion of their space for registration purposes, as did the Central Library; and members of the staff, at the request of the authorities, personally attended to the work of the registration of Library employees.

In a number of Branches the local Exemption Boards and the Legal Advisory Committees have held, and continue to hold, their meetings. The Branch Libraries have also co-operated with the Government and State Food Commissions. The American Red Cross has had the use of some of our buildings for the purpose of making surgical dressings, etc.

In the campaign for money for books for soldiers and sailors, under the auspices of the War Service Committee of the American Library Association, much help was given by the Branch Librarians and members of the staff. Each Branch was a centre for receiving funds, and local leaders were appointed to form squads to solicit funds from the general public. Since the campaign for money, the Central Library and every Branch Library has been a collection agency for contributions of books and magazines for American soldiers and sailors here and abroad.

Mr. Azariah S. Root was compelled to give up his position here as Principal of the Library School, his leave of absence as Librarian of Oberlin College having expired during the summer. Mr. Ernest J. Reece was appointed Principal, and began his duties in September, 1917.

At a time when it is necessary to economize in all directions it would be inappropriate to go to the expense of printing a lengthy annual report. This Report has therefore been made as brief as possible, and many divisions of the work are not commented upon. The statistical tables, however, give the essential facts for those who are interested in them.

Respectfully Submitted,

February 20, 1918.

E. H. ANDERSON,

Director.