Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-22
The Young Mems Institute.


 The annual reports of the officers of the lished. Comparatively few people in this city, though we are glad to be able to say their number is increasing know what an ex- tensive and valuable educational work the Institute is doing From the report of the president, MT. c. E. Graves, we learn that during the two years the Institute has occu- pied the new building the membership has been as follows: 693 annual members, 492 semi annual and quarterly members and :, O56 books have been taken out by the single volume by persons not members. During the same period more than fourteen hundred new volumes have been purchased and added to the library. The benefits which the In- stitute offers in the way of public library and reading room are becoming more widely appreciated. During the past year the read ing room has been frequented by more of the citizens, especially among the business and professional men. The library has been visited by larger number and greater va riety of books have been drawn out. The president deems it appropriate to refer to one class of members to whom the Institute owes much, namely, the lady members. He says: :: ''No one can carefully observe the workings of such an institution as this without having new ideas or at least new illustration, of the large and wholesome influence exercised by women even in the intellectual sphere of life-that sphere where she is generally sup posed to be the least potent. Many of the most valuable suggestions that have come to the committee, upon the purchase of books, have come from lady members, show ing wide and intimate knowledge of ltera- ture and of the real needs of the public. It is they who have made the most frequent de- mands for books of the higher order, and have done much to develop the library in that direction.'' The subject of a free i- brary, discussion of which has been recently revived, is touched upon as follows:
 In order to maintain free ibraryin city of this size, large endowment is necessary. Were this library to be made free, the num- Der of persons drawing books from the h brary and making use of the reading room would increase about twenty fold. The number of books drawn out during the year would be upwards of hundred thousand; several assistant librarians and other addi- tional labor would be required, and the ex- penses in every way largely increased.
 Judging from the experience of other free libraries it would require an annual income of about twelve thousand dollars to properly maintain free public library in the city of New Haven. This present library could not be safely made into free libra ry without an endowment of about one hundred thousand dollars in addition to it's existing funds. Happy and fortunate is the man who, possessing wealth and mindful of the obligations which it's pos session brings, shall contribute to this end. Future generations shall rise up to call him blessed. When dead he shall yet live in the powerful center of influence which he leaves behind him, and his name will endure as long as the city shall stand.
 A deserved compliment is paid to the libra rian, Miss c. Lizzie Todd, whose excellent memory, wide knowledge of books and long connection with the library, enable her to render quick and valuable assistance to any one who seeks for special book or a book on any given subject