THE CHANGE IN LIBRARIANS.

ON Mr. Sibley's resignation of the office of Librarian, in consequence of his failing eye-sight, the position, hardly expecting that it would be accepted, was offered Mr. Justin Winsor, who for nearly ten years has been the able and efficient Superintendent of the Boston Public Library. Of the subsequent proceedings between Mr. Winsor and the city authorities, wherein efforts were made to retain him, it is unnecessary here to speak, as the dailies have told the whole story time and time again. Whether Mr. Winsor was to be preferred to another great scholar and brilliant writer, for some time past closely connected with the Library, whatever our views on the subject, we will not attempt to discuss.

Mr. Winsor's record in the Boston Library has been faultless, and the whole management, while under his care, has been a marvel of correctness, exactness, and faithfulness. At the age of eighteen, we are told, he wrote the history of the town of Duxbury; entered this College in the class of '53, but for some reason left at the end of the Sophomore year, and went to Europe, where he remained for three years. His degree was given him in '68. Returning from Europe, he settled in Boston; was elected Trustee of the Boston Library, and was called upon to make out the Annual Report. This he did with such exhaustive thoroughness and evident familiarity with his subject, that on the death of Mr. Jewett, the then Librarian, the position which he has held till lately was offered him.

Mr. Sibley has been connected with our Library thirty-six consecutive years, besides one year after graduation as Assistant, - a period longer than any one man has had connection with it; and during this period he has unquestionably done more for it than any other two men combined. The Library without him would have been "Hamlet" with the Prince of Denmark left out.

In 1841 the Library was moved to Gore Hall; and on the death of Mr. Thaddeus W. Harris, Mr. Sibley filled his place as Librarian. On taking charge of the Library there were found to be 41,000 volumes, with the Hollis and Shapleigh Fund of $5,000, which yielded for the purchase of books an income of only $250 per annum. Now there are 164,000 plus volumes, with a permanent fund of $170,000. During his administration there have been, among lesser ones, the donations of the Pickman, Walker, Wales, and Sumner libraries, besides the William Gray Fund of $25,000 for books alone.

This rapid and systematic growth of the Library to the position of third in America is owing undoubtedly to Mr. Sibley's conscientious, untiring efforts: he has done a good work, and has his reward, if in nothing else, in the high esteem and veneration of his fellow-men.

The Library is now in a particularly flourishing condition. The ball has been set rolling, and all that is necessary is to keep it in motion. The Librarian will have to turn his attention to systematizing, classifying, and arranging the books as they pour in, rather than to soliciting additions, as was the custom of yore. With his flattering success with the enormous City of Boston Library, it will be safe to predict a successful administration for Mr. Winsor.