Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-12
CLEVELAND LIBRARY ASsOCI-
ALTON.
Annual Report of the BOARD Of Dlrec-
tors Read and Adopted


Annual Report of the BOARD Of Dlrec'
tors Read and Adopted
We stated yesterday morning that the
annual meeting of the Cleveland Library
Association wss held in the Library Rooms
on Monday evening, when officers, whose
names we have slready announced, were
elected for the ensuing year. The follow
ing report was read and adopted:
Fellow MEMBERS: In accordance with the
requirements of the Constitution, I submit
a report Of the scts of your Board during
the past year, with the condition, financial
and otherwise, of the Association.
win not seek to occupy your attention
with comparatively unimportant details, in
this hour of our nations triumph. when
our hearts are filed with gladness by the
tidings, received this morning, Of the sur
render of the army which has 50 long and
Obstinately resisted the rightful authority
of our National Government. The virtual
termination, successfully, of this gigantic
struggle for our national existence, creates
an interest so intense and absorbing as to
admit of only necessary attention 10 pre-
sent important duties Among these duties
that of the present is to aid in guiding and
properly recognizing for another year,
an Institution which seeks to attraet and
mentally elevate all, and especially the
young men and women on whose intel
leetual end moral elevation the future
destiny of our country depends; destiny,
the foundations Of which have Just been re-
laid and cemented with the rich blood Of
her sons. It has been truly said that
'nothing more surely marks the measure
Of a city's honor and usefulness than those
institutions on which all true civilization
depends"
The year which has now terminated, has
been one Of marked progress and success
for the Association, more so than that of
any previous year in its history, whether
we measure success by the condition of its
finances, or by the higher standard Of the
character Of the benefits the Association has
conferred, though theability to confer ben
efits is inseparable from the amounts of its
monied resources. The number of members
has not been so muchiucressedB rs the num-
Der of actual readers, which has nearly or
quite doubled. The time of the Librarian
and his Assistant IS new severely taxed in
attending to the delivery, receipt and pres
ervation of volumes, 10 all which they have
given most faithful and acceptable attsn-
ton. Tho necessity of an Assistant, with
the enhanced cost Of living, rendered the
previous salary of the Librarian insufficient,
and Mr.. Tait's proposition to continue to
discharge the duties and furnish needed
assistance, acceptable to the Board, for
81 ,O0O, was accepted. This increase,
which was only necessary and just, together
with the increase Of rent from 81 so TO
$500, and the enhanced cost Of periodicals,
fuel and sll other expenses, would have
justified the Directors in pTOportiOnatelY
raising the price Of membership from the
old rate of So, for the years use of the hi
brary and Reading Room, but they con-
slider it q duty to offer these privileges to
the largest number practicable, by main
tanning the lowest possible price Of mem
bership, and thus continue to admit many
whose incomes have not been increased pro
portionately with the times, and who would
otherwise be debarred these privileges.
The Board therefore resolved to adhere to
the old rates Of membership, and by in
creased personal exertions, if possible,
secure a larger number of members, and
in this they have been partially successful,
though the increase in members has been
less than might have been reasonably ex-
pected.
The lecture course has been gratifying in
its general character, as interesting and
useful, and in its financial results. All the
lectures have been honored with as large
audiences as the limited room permitted.
3
much greater but for want of room, and
many have slso refrained from attendance
through the we'll grounded apprehension
of danger fiom want of sufficient means Of
| egress in case Of fire, and it is hoped that
another lecture season may witness the As
sociatiOn enjoying the privilege of an ample
and safe lecture hall. Financially, the lee
| ture course shows of 81 ,557.13, being about
| 81 900 more than the preceding year. The
price of admission, including reserved seats,
| in other large cities has been more than
| one third higher than our rates.
With but one exception, the lectures fully
net the expectations of the Committee and
the audience, and in that instance the Com
mittee fully compensated the holders of
course tickets by aiding an acceptable lee
ture to the previously promised number.
It's simply an act of justice to publicly
/ acknowledge, that to the good Judgment Of
the Lecturing Committee, and especially to
| the perseverance, promptness and energy
of its chairman, Mr.. E. r. Perkins, much
| of the unprecedented success of our Lecture
| Course is fairly attributable.
The receipts and expenditures for Lee
| lures, are rs follows;
]