which follow, it is sought to allow the several parties to express their views without partiality. For the sake of brevity, merely the name of the townships, from the reports of which we quote, are given.

LENAWEE COUNTY. Adrian City.-"The library books are drawn and read qnite regularly by some of the scholars in the high school. There is not, however, a sufficient interest manifested in this important branch of education. It may be that our failure to keep our library supplied each year with the newest and best current literature of the day has tended much to produce this result." Fairfield.-"The township library contains a sufficient supply of books, generally well selected. Formerly the books were much sought after, but of late somewhat neglected. Perhaps a change from township to district system would be useful." Macon.-"The district libraries are pretty good." Madison.-"Condition of library [township] good. Books well selected and much read." Tecumseh.-"But little interest in libraries; yet the interest is increasing."

LIVINGSTON COUNTY. Hamburg-"In some districts the books are read considerably, and in others not much interest is manifested in the library. What is best to be done to improve the libraries, I cannot tell; but most certainly to awaken an interest in the minds of the people' is the first thing; otherwise an improved library' will avail but little." Howell-"District libraries-a good selection of books, but little read. The law should require townships or districts, as the case may be, to raise, by tax, annually, an amount sufficient to replenish the libraries in proportion to the amount of property, or that a portion of the two mill tax be appropriated to the purchase of books." Tyrone "The town refuses to vote for the support of libraries, and the district libraries are gone-no one knows where. The inspectors applied to the county treasurer for the amount due the town from the library fund, (from fines,) and he reports no money paid in. We then applied to the supervisor of the town, and he states the amount was so small it was

applied to the general fund of the county. So it has been for the last six years."

MACKINAC COUNTY. Holmes-"The township library consists of historics, biographies, travels, and a number of choice works of poetry and fiction. They are well read by citizens and strangers." Moran-"The district library is well read."

MACOMB COUNTY. Erin-"District libraries-books well selected. What can be done to improve the libraries? Present us with 100 volumes, well selected." Lenox-"I think the books of the district libraries were well selected, but they are not generally much read." Macomb-" District libraries-not much interest taken in reading the books, because no new ones have of late been procured-the old ones having been all read." Ray-"The township library is in the hands of individuals through the town. In fact nothing has been done for the library, and we have none." Richmond-"The condition of our district libraries is bad. They get scattered and destroyed. We have had no additions for several years. Never have had a cent from fines and penalties from our county. We feel the need of good libraries well cared for, very much." Shelby"Our township library was divided up and given to the districts. As far as known, the books are taken good care of but little read, and no additions made." Washington-" Our town library was distributed some years ago, and there have been no additions made since. The books on hand were well selected, and are much read. The people will not vote to raise money to increase the district libraries, unless compelled by law."

MARQUETTE COUNTY. Marquette-"The township library contains the works of the leading historians, essayists and novelists, a good variety of scientific works, and many useful juvenile works of various kinds. The books are very generally read, and form a very important source of mental improvement to all classes. Additions are made yearly.

MECOSTA COUNTY. Leonard-" Our district library is in a good

condition and well read." Mecosta-"We have no library, as the money that was voted for it was used for other purposes." MONROE COUNTY. Ash-"The condition of our district libra ries at present is quite flattering; as great pains have been taken to select books best calculated to instruct as well as entertain the reader; and by the division of our former township library into district libraries, we have placed the books conveniently within the reach of all in the town, and thereby greatly increased their perusal." Bedford-" Each director draws from the township library a portion of the books for his district. The library is in good condition; and its usefulness can hardly be estimated." Erie-" Our library is kept in a very bad condition, and the books are not of the best collection; therefore there cannot be a great deal of encouragement in reading the same."

MONTCALM COUNTY.

Bloomer.-"The town library is not much read, from the fact that our books have been generally read be fore." Eureka.-"District libraries; not much interest manifested; might be improved by appropriating money to buy books." Fairplain.-"Our district libraries are small, and I should think the books as much damaged by rough usage as by careful reading. The selection of books is very well adapted to the state of intellectual culture in the community. If we can raise the standard of education, it will create a demand for books and improved libraries."

OAKLAND COUNTY. Farmington.-"The library is not conducted as it should be. The general fault, I think, is with the school officers, who neglect to exchange the books and encourage their being read." Independence.-"One-half of the library money has not even been drawn out of the town treasurer's hands." Novi." Our district libraries are in a poor condition. Some district boards have divided the library books among the inhabitants. The books are read but little. Let us have a law, and see that it is carried out, that each district shall appropriate a certain amount yearly for the purchase of good library books." Oxford.-"The district libraries are in good condi

tion, and the books much read." Troy.-"We have district libraries, and no appropriation of the two mill tax has been made since the division, for the purchase of books; and therefore but few additions have been made. In fact, they are nearly worthless in their present condition. If a certain amount of the two mill tax was designated by law for the purchase of books, a better and more beneficial result would soon appear." Whitelake.-"District libraries are in tolerable condition, well read, and doing good in most districts. The books are tolerably well selected."

OTTAWA COUNTY. Allendale.-"Our library is township. The books are well selected, and not much read." Crockery."District libraries-small, well-chosen-read to a good degree -could be improved by an additional number of well-selected books." Georgetown.-"Town library. All persons residing in the township may draw directly from the town clerk; which privilege the inhabitants pretty generally avail themselves of." Jamestown. "The usefulness of our library is good. Books well selected, and much read.

SAGINAW COUNTY. Birch Run.-"The condition and usefulness of our district libraries is good-well selected and considerably read." Chesaning."The libraries are good, but small, and not well selected in some of the districts." Fremont. "The township library is a dead letter. There are but few books, and they are worthless. There is no district library. Twentyfive dollars was voted for a district library at the town meeting last spring." Maple Grove." The district 'libraries are in good condition, considering the size of the districts; and we consider the district system indispensable. Some additions are desirable." Saginaw.-"The district libraries are much read; but there is not money enough appropriated to enable the districts to replenish their libraries as much as it would be for their interest and advantage to do."

SHIAWASSEE COUNTY. Bennington. This township had at one time a good library. The interest taken in it was not sufficient

to induce those who had charge of it, to enforce the rules, directors were slack-did not draw and return books as the law required, individuals did not conform to the rules, consequently the books were scattered, and would wear out. The system by many was pronounced a failure, and change was made to district libraries. What books could be gathered up were apportioned; some of the districts drew their share; others neglected for some cause, to draw their apportionment. Their books consequently remain in the hands of the township clerk -a few dilapidated volumes, no one knows where they belong. Thus library matters stand at the present time.. No appropriations from any source have been made for the libraries." New Haven.-"There is but little interest manifested in our district libraries." Shiawassee.-"Our libraries are dilapidated. They are neither well selected nor much read. Districts should not be allowed to appropriate library moneys to any other purpose, under the penalty of forfeiture for the coming year." Woodhull." An appropriation is the only way the libraries of this town can be maintained."

SANILAC COUNTY. Worth." The township library is in good condition; but as to its usefulness it is rather hard to determine. The books are well selected, but I think they are not much read."

ST. CLAIR COUNTY. Brockway.-"District libraries in very good condition, but not much read." Casco. "We have a township library. Many of our books were cheaply bound/ and are now badly worn. Most of our inhabitants are Germans, who do not yet understand the English language well enough to be interested in our library. With the others, it is really useful. We have a tolerably good selection, though we cannot usually obtain new publications so soon as is desirable. As to your question, what can be done, &c., we reply that we wish townships were obliged to lay out something for books each year." Greenwood." Library books are not much read, as they have been all read several times through. We have caused the directors to exchange their libraries with each other, and hope