Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-04-12
Cleveland Library Asaoeiation-AnnuaI
Meeting and Fleetion of Omneva

GANNNNMMM ANMNANN ANNmNNmNMn@AmmmnN
Meeting and Election Of Omoers
The annual meeting Of The Cleveland Library
Association was held last evening at the rooms Of
the association. Mr.. Geo. Wiley was called to the
Chair, and NJ B. +. Peixotto appointed Secretary
The first thing In order was the report Of the
Board Of Directors Of The Society, which was read
by II. NJ. CHAPiN, Esq, The President This graf.
flying and encouraging report is as follows:
Roows oF CLEVELAND LIBRARY ASSOCIATION,
Monday evening, April II, 1859.
The Board Of Directors Of the Cleveland Library
Association, in compliance with tha requirements
Of tue Constitution, herewith presentto you their
annual report
1t viii be remembered that at the last annual
meeting the retiring Board omitted 10 make a writ
ten report Of the condition OF the Association aud
OF their management the preceding year, as re.
quii ed TO do by the Constitution, aud on retiring
from the room took with them all the books aud
papers that bad been In their possession relating 10
their official management The present Board
have made repeated efforts 10 have these books
and papers placed again ia the possession of the
association, but without success.
Al the same meeting committee Of three stock
holders were chosen 10 ascertain the financial con-
diton Of the association, and at a subsequent meet
ing they reported an Indebtedness Of S733 II 40
This amount proved to have been an under esti-
mate, as additional debts have since been ascer-
tanned Increasing Ito nearly $500. A committee
Of seven (of whom the late President, r. G. Par
sons wVs charman) was chosen ~ solicit subsclip-
tlons for the payment Of this debt, but although
two meetings have since been called for the pur-
pose Of hearing their report, none has yet been
presented, aud with the exception Of about SIPS
obtained by Geo. w. DergiD, JT., IL ~ not known
to the Board .nat this committee has taken any ac-
tiou.
As the Constitution under which the Association
was acting a. that time, was considered very i'm
perfect, aud the charter very limited, and as at
every meeting OF any importance, the ghost OF
some old stock, murdered and buried years before
would stalk In claiming equal II not superior rights
to those acting under the then Constitution, and
as all records aud papers relating to the past his
tory aud management OF the association had pass
| ed out Of its hands, il was thought best by the
! Board to call meeting Of the stockholders and
recommend to them to abrogate the then charter
and constitution, and organize under the general
| incorporation law Of Ohio passed Ia 1852.
This meeting was held on the third Of May, l4l
members voting IN favor Of the change aud one
opposed.
The necessary steps having been TAKEN a m Ct
ing was called on the 9th Of May, at which time
Trustees aud Clerk were chosen for the purpose
OF Incorporation as required by the act and at
another meeting on the 3lst Of May. the organiza-
tion was perfected by the adoption Of constitution
aud choice Of officers
The Board would here state that the Association
are under much obligation TO Geo. Wiley, E,q..
| aud Judge Il. p, Ranney, for their legal aid and
| advice under which they acted while making this
change in their Charter and Constitution.
1t may be proper here to say that in changing
the Constitution the fee for annual membership
has been rcducedfrom three TO two dollars year.
IL was the opinion Ot the Board that by this change
the benefits of the Association could be extended,
and at the same time the income kept up ifnot in
creased. owing TO the unsettled condition, not
only of business affairs generally, but also Of the
! Association itself the past year. the new system
has hardly had fair trial, but the Board see no
reason yet for changing their views; aud hope no
change will be made until 1t has been subjected to
the test of several years experience.
The Board would also call the attention Of mem
bers TO another feature 10 the present Constitution
that Of admitting life members upon the prepay
ment of fifty dollars
Here were two months gone by with the natula
expenses of the Association, accommodating and al
ding to the already large indebtedness, and the
Board unable to add new m mbers until the new
organization was perfected and to add still iurthe
to the discOuragements Of the Board, q short tint
after this fire occurred in another palt Of th,
building damaging the Library and Rooms TO such
an extent that the latter had TO be closed several
weeks aud the Books all removed TO another build
ing, aud also making an additional expense Of re
palra Of over $500.
But Notwithstanding al these discouragemonts
the Board. have now great pleasure, yes, pTide IL
being able 10 report 20 you this evening that the
Association is entirely ont Of dcbt and with smal
balance in the hands of the Treasurer.
The number ofmembers now is 622, an incrGas
Of 392 during the past year.
Ul,n uNv.al pru nut foil