The Portland daily press., 1869-04-06
Portland Ia.ti.ase--A.nual Meeting.

Portland 1ustitnte-@AnnuaI Meeting.
The annual meeting of the Portland Insti-
tute and Public Library took place at the Lii
brary Room at 4 o clock yesterday afternoon.
The meeting was called to order by Hon.
William Willis, President of the Institute,
when the minutes OF the last annual meeting
were read by Edw. A. Noyes, Esq, Clerk.
The report of the Directors was then read,
and the number of annual subscribers has in
creased from So to 394 The condition of the
books, the various departments of literature
they represent, and the very complete and rich
collection of periodical literature, is expressed
in the report of the Librarian, who mentions
the donations of Senator Fessenden, Hon.
John Lynch, the daughter of the late Hon.
George Evans, Hon. @. s. Daveis, and the peo-
pie of Portland, who have SO generously res
ponded to his appeals through the columns of
the daily papers
A high compliment is paid by the Directors
to the Libratian, Mr.. Edw. A. Noyes, for his
judieious, arduous and gratuitous services and
by the Librarian, Mr.. Noyes, to Miss M. E.
Barbour, the assistant in charge of the cata-
logue.
Some progress has been made in the fine
arts, enough, it is hoped, to incite greater in
terest in this useful and fascinating branch of
refined culture. The pictures on our walls
show what our native artists can do, and the
vacant spaces invite contributions from native
and foreign artists Sculpture is represented
by admirable specimens of the skill of our own
citizens, as well as fine copies from the antique
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS.
The Directors call attention to the continued
success of the Institute, and its present useful
and prominent condition. About 5000 volumes.
besides newspapers and pamphlets, of valuable
books have been added to the library the past
year, and the whole number in circulation is
now about 1900. This increase compares fav.
orably with that of all other libraries in the
country, that of the Mercantile Library of New
York having had the largest increase the past
year, viz, 5000 volumes. Neither the Boston
Athen@um or the libraries of Yale and Harv-
ard Colleges received more than $500. This
increase in our library is very gratifying, and
gives us the hope that we may continue pro-
crossing and ultimately present not only to the
general reader, but also to the student all the
works necessary for reference and improve
lnOu1 0Ecdt SIduucdtiOu lS 10 De taken In the
fact that the number of subscribers has in
creased rapidly since the library was first op-
ened, as has also the number of those visiting
the rooms for the purpose of reading. The
number of books taken out per month, at the
start was 100 in June, and in March had in
creased to 1882 or about 100 volumes per day
for working month of twenty seven days.
The number Of life members is eighty.
We must not forget to acknowledge here the
donation of our townsmen, I. P. Harrington
and VIM. W. Thomas-the former of 800 and
the latter of $500-which coming at time of
great need were most acceptable. Such re-
membranes Of our institution and such tokens
of appreciation animate the labors of those who
are striving to place our institution on an ele-
waited plane of social and educational improve
ment. Our Acknowledgements are also due to
the many friends who have SO literally con-
tributed to the library in any form, from hun
dreds Of volumes to single pamphlet; and let
us renewedly urge our citizens to continue
their contributions without being deferred by
the idea that they may be of trifing conse-
quence. Newspapers, old anG new, pamphlets
laid aside, books which have ceased to be of
value to them, novels which have lost their
novelty to their owners; all these go to make
up the apparatus of every large library, and
even duplicates can be made valuable as
means of exchange for newer and fresher
works.