REPORT. In compliance with the constitution of the Athenæum, the Directors herewith present to the shareholders "a detailed report of the state of the Library and of the general concerns of the institution." The Board of Directors elected at the last annual meet ing was promptly organized by the re-election of William Gammell, Esq., as President, and Alexander Farnum, Esq., as Vice-President. Mr. J. D. Hedge and Miss Mary M. Angell were continued in their respective positions of Librarian and Assistant Librarian. The system of closing the Library in the months of July and August, between the hours of one and three P. M., has been repeated this year without apparent injury to the shareholders, and certainly to the benefit of the officers in charge during the severe summer just gone. The long since authorized introduction of Pawtuxet water into the building is now an accomplished fact. The delay of this much needed work, as you are aware, was caused by the want of a sewer upon Benefit street into which the waste water could, without too great expense, be conducted. That new sewer was completed in July last, and the Board immediately caused the water to be introduced, conveniences to be made in the building, and drainage to the new sewer completed. Last winter, during two of the many severe rain-falls, the water invaded the furnace-pit and put out the fires, thus rendering the performance of Librarians' duties painful, and occupation of the building for reading purposes almost impossible. With our new drain-pipe it is hoped that difficulty will not again occur. This improvement has been completed at a cost of over 800 dollars. Its necessity is patent, and the Board as your steward only regret it in this view, that so much money has been diverted from the purchase of books. John Banks, the faithful and trustworthy Janitor of the building, died during the winter. He had spent in your service twenty-five years. His son, Edward L. Banks, succeeds his father in the performance of the same trust. During the summer the removal of the ward-room building opposite was the cause of the sad mutilation of the fine trees in front of the Athenæum grounds. This estate suffered in common with those of many proprietors along Benefit street. Your Board caused an energetic remonstrance against the practice of moving buildings of little or no value through streets, whereby beautiful trees are wholly or in part destroyed, to be conveyed to the Mayor of the city. The subject was by him presented to the City Council. It is to be hoped the effort of the Board may in some measure assist in checking the practice of saving almost worthless buildings in our city at the expense of long and grateful lines of shade. trees. The Treasurer's Report for the past year exhibits the following financial condition of the Corporation : Upon the main matters of the Library, the purchase, use and condition of the books, the Librarian reports as follows: The additions to the Library fall below the average of former years in number, though not greatly in value. This fact is accounted for by the diversion of our funds for water improvements, as well as by the increased cost of books and from depreciation in the currency. It should be stated, also, that no opportunities have offered to purchase books at the cheaper rates of auction sales. There have been, however, added to the Library in the past year, 612 volumes, 170 pamphlets, 1 atlas, and 6 maps and charts. Of these volumes there were added Of the pamphlets, 36 were added by purchase, and 134 by gift. The average cost of the volumes bought is $2.19; that of the volumes added by the binding of periodicals much greater. The average cost of the pamphlets purchased is about 41 cents. The whole number of volumes at present on our shelves is 35,104. A list of donors to the Athenæum is appended to this report. There have been eighteen transfers of shares during the year. Eleven new shares have been sold, which is a greater number than has been disposed of during any year since the present Librarian's connection with the institution. There has also been a material increase in the circulation of books; the whole number of volumes issued being 24,911-being 1,144 more than ever previously given out in any year since the number of issues was recorded. It will be seen by the subjoined table that the literary taste of the reading public is very constant. There were issued Of prose, fiction and juvenile books, . "history and biography, "poetry and belles lettres, The greatest number given out in any month was in March, 2,516; the largest delivery on any day, 240, on February 13th. The Library has been carefully examined by the Librarian and his Assistant and fifteen books found missing from the shelves, and not accounted for. Three of those missing last year have again been found on the shelves. There are a considerable number of books in the department of prose fiction which are worn out or nearly so, and should be condemned. The wear and tear of books of this class is very great, much greater in the opinion of the Librarian than is needful. They are abused by being scribbled over, by having the fly-leaves torn out, or they are allowed to be played with by children and returned with a leaf or two of the text missing, and most unfortunately when the damage is pointed out to the persons returning them, it generally happens that such was the condition of the volumes when they received them! Several changes having taken place in our list of periodicals received, some having died a natural death and been replaced by others, a new list of those regularly received is here given: Academy, The. London. Weekly. 4°. |