REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS.

THE Directors of the Athenæum, in presenting their Report, take pleasure in again congratulating the shareholders on the continued progress and prosperity of the The year has been marked by few events of special interest or importance, but our accustomed work has gone on with little of anything to hinder its progress

institution.

or to mar its success.

The officers of the institution

have been the same as in the year preceding. Mr. Frank E. Richmond, who was chosen a Director at the last Annual Meeting, declined the position, and Mr. William B. Weeden was chosen to take his place. It has been found necessary to make considerable expenditures in repairs upon the building. The roof around the skylights, for several years past, has occasionally leaked,

This has produced

especially in severe rain storms. numerous stains in the ceiling, and also in the matting with which the floor was covered. The condition of the roof was found to be such as required immediate attention. The leaks must first of all be stopped, and afterwards the ceiling must be repaired and covered with a tinted wash, as before. Both these works have been done, it is hoped effectually; though leaks in a roof are

at all times so insidious and so difficult of remedy, or even of discovery, that we cannot be sure of entire success till after a winter's experience. The roof, however, has been thoroughly examined and every part of it that suggested the possibility of a leak, has been carefully covered and repaired. Especially is this true of the sashes, not only on the outside, but also on the inside, for no small part of the trouble we have experienced has arisen from the condensation and deposit of atmospheric moisture upon the inside windows in the ceiling, and its overflow upon the adjoining plastering. It is hoped that the entire evil has been remedied by what has been done upon the roof.

The matting on the main floor has been in use for the past eight years. It was worn through in several places and was badly stained in others by droppings from the roof. As such a covering must always require to be renewed at short intervals, and is at all times a receptacle of dust which is injurious to the books, it was decided to dispense with it altogether, and to cover the main floor with a thin upper flooring of Southern pine, which, it is expected, will not only last much longer, but in many other ways prove advantageous to the good appearance and cleanliness of the room. The cost of this new covering is scarcely greater than that of the matting, and it cannot fail to endure a much longer wear. connection with this work, a new carpet has been placed on the floor of the south-west room, known as the Directors' Room, and that room has in other respects been made more commodious and agreeable. The bills for these expenditures have not yet been received, but

In

it is estimated that their amount will be about two hundred and fifty dollars.

The Directors always regret any necessity which occasions the diversion of a considerable amount of money from the increase and care of the library, for after all, the maintenance and growth of the library form the grand object of the institution. The expenditures of the past year, here referred to, though not directly for books, are yet very intimately connected with the safety and well being of the library. The books on our shelves are never secure from injury while water is liable to drop from leaks in the roof, and few frequenters of the Athenæum would be satisfied to see stains continually multiplying on its ceiling or its floor. It must also be kept in mind that the building and its fences are now nearly forty years old. Situated as it is in the excavation of a hill, and on this account specially exposed to dampness, it has reached the period when repairs must of necessity be more frequent than they have hitherto been. It has always been our hope, however, that the increasing expenditures for this purpose will be more than made up by the increasing resources of the institution, so that though we may be compelled to expend more in changes and repairs we shall also be able to expend more in the purchase of books and the increase of our intellectual advantages and attractions.

The interests of the Athenæum as a public library have received the careful and constant attention of the Directors. The number of volumes added during the year is 750. Besides these there have been received 221 pamphlets, 3 atlasses, and 8 charts; of the volumes added, 490 were purchased, 98 were given, and 162 were obtained