The Portland daily press., 1884-04-08
pURTLAND PUaIIC IrnrARY.
The Annual Reports and Election of Of
6Cera.


The annual meeting of the Portland Insti-
tute and Public Library was held at the Ii
brarian's room, City Building. yesterday az
ternoon, the president, Judge Symonds, in the
chair.
LIBRARIANS REPORT
Following is an abstract of the report of Mr..
8. M. Watson, librarian;
1t is encouraging to know that the useful
ness OF the library Is increasing; It having cir.
eulated the past year s,125 more books for
home use, than the year previous, and 1899
more books have been used In the reading
room than were recorded the wear before.
Previous to the 2Sd OF last October no record
had ever been kept OF the use of current peri.
odicals, but since that time we have recorded
Sl6 calls when the magazine asked for was
supplied; eight of the most popular folios have
always been fastened to desk In the reading
room where they are in constant use.
several OF she most popular magazines are
duplicated, and one copy allowed to circulate
for home use as long as IL is called for, or until
sent to the binder at the end of the year.
All other magazines are kept near the deliy-
cry desk whore they can be readily assed to
any who may wish to consult them, and I
think the attendants try to make ell patrons
feel perfectly free to ask for these books by
prompt and courteous delivery, and often fur
nishing several of kindred subject instead of
the single one asked for; but only the use Of
the one demanded has been recorded
With the former system, If system it could
% called, the magazines as soon as received
were placed upon the tables in the reading
room; 20O were usually there at one time, and
~ or more different kinds thoroughly mixed.
Several new and popular magazines and
nearly LOO new books have been added the
past year to the library. The books purchased
tend much more toward the reference and
standard class than to the ephemeral or those
which serve only to amuse.
Unfortunately we have but one reading
room, and as this Is neither free circulating,
nor wholly subscription library our situation
is rather peculiar one.
In Libraries entirely free all citizens who
can furnish satisfactory reference to the direc.
tors are at liberty to take any books suitable
Tor circulation to their homes to be read at
leisure, but this library being free TO all COM
| ers only In the use of books on the premises
tells different story.
PERSONS who prefer to read at home and can
| pay the subscription take their books away,
put those who cannot do this take advantage
OF our system and the reading room and the
result is natural enough, we are thronged
every evening and every day out of school
hours, especially during the colder months,
with poor, untidy boys, who are compelled II
they read at all to remain in the library with
their books, mon0polizing the reading room to
the exclusion of all others.
recorded in the month of February alone
the names and most residences of $50 boys, or
there may be four or tive girls, who come to
this library night after night and the same
ones are coming now. Not all, but most of
them untidy and repulsive in their looks, but
with bright and intelligent faces, approaching
kind word and ready and willing to do the
best they know, and l hope before the APP
proach Of another winter these boys may be
better provided for here or elsewhere. Let us
not push them to the reform school and pris-
life.
Among the donors to the library I must
mention the late Mr.. N. q. Sawyer, who gave
us with other property which need not men
tion here, 100 books and 230 pamphlets and
unbousd periodicals, maps, &c, and two
large oil portraits now in the library rooms,
and Mr.. Charles B. Thnrston, Mr.. Brown
Thurston. Mr. Stephen Berry, Mrs q. B.
Blanchard, Mr.. George D. Rand, Mr.. Fred
Thompson, Mr.. d. W. Fessenden, Mr.. G. G.
Burgess, Mr.. Ira Berry, Mr.. Charles Edwards,
Mr.. Thomas L. Talbot, Mr.. j. T. Hull, Mr. f.
Q. Conant, Mr.. W. 81. Smith, Mr.. J. f. An
derson, Mr.. s. Waterhouse, Hon. T. B. Reed,
Hon. W. p. Frye. Hon. W. L. Putnam, Hon.
Samuel A. Green, and Hon. Francis Fessen-
den.
In looking about the library we are soon
convinced of the need of more room for books,
for work, and for storage. 1 doubt not the Ii
brary could accomplish twice the good it now
does, with sufficient room and more help.
TREAsURER's REPORT.
Treasurer Edward A. Noyes reported as fol.