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THE LIBRARIES.
HE University Library which in 1921 contained 15,000 books now contains about 29,500. In 1924 the library of Dr. Morrison which had for some years been lodged in the City Hall, was handed over to the University. Unfortunately some of the books of this collection had during their residence at the City Hall disintegrated, but some 2,800 volumes still survive. During the last eleven These volumes are not included in the total of 29,500.
years some $77,500 have been spent on the purchase of books and journals. The library is now subscribing to 190 journals; in 1921 it could not afford to sub- scribe to more than 80. The annual grant of the University to the library amounts to $10,000 a year.
The general library is housed in the main building, but the medical library This is not an ideal is accommodated in the School of Tropical Medicine. arrangement.
The University has recently bought the Chinese Section of the Hankow Club Library. This is a unique collection of some 3,000 volumes about China; books many of which are now very rare, some practically unobtainable. All these books being in some European language will become a part of the Univer- sity's general library and not of the Fung Ping Shan Chinese Library. The 3,000 Hankow volumes are not included in the total of 29,500.
The University's general library represents a useful collection of books and journals but there are gaps-gaps which must be filled up, if the University is Additional ever to become the home of serious scientific and other research.
What is wanted is, in accommodation and equipment are also urgently needed. fact, a new building for the University's general library-a building worthy to atand beside the Fung Ping Shan Chinese Library.
Mention has already been made of the Fung Ping Shan Chinese Library and of the various purchases of Chinese books which during the last few years the University has been able to make. Some 944 sets of Chinese books consisting of some 81,163 volumes are now in this library. The library is, comparatively speaking, strong in Chinese Classics and philosophy. There are various sets of The one hun- Chinese Classics with full commentaries, also a complete set of
dred Ancient Chinese Philosophies," a complete set of Taoist writings, and two editions of the Tripitaka. On the other hand the library, is weak in history and geography.
The Fung Ping Shan Library is to be open to the public and the University Modern looks forward confidently to receiving gifts of books and periodicals.
Mrs. Fung Ping Chinese writings, translations and journals are badly needed.
Shan has set an excellent example, having on the 15th February, 1938, presented the Fung Ping Shan Library with about 7,000 volumes of modern Chinese books, the value of these books being $2,242.
THE GREAT HALL.
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A ROOM IN THE GENERAL LIBRARY.
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