The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-11-09

ed to a better light, and the cases of juvenile books were put in It's place. 1 This made the office much more com modious, and will be ample for some | years to come.
 ] During the year, the bound volumes of the more popular magazines have been brought into the main room, and are now more accessible to those who resort to Poole's Index.
 The catalogue by subjects is still in | the works, and bids fair to be one of the most complete of its kind. The li- braria,n is now preparing set of col ored cards for use in the charging sys- tenn, which will enable him at any time to trace the exact charges of books in full made to each patron
 The inventory of all the books made some time since shows about the usual loss of books that is generally expect ed in a library with open shelves. Our loss in books worn out or lost averages less than one hundred per annum. Rarely do we lose q book of much value, though I regret to report that there has been one loss during the year which is very serious, and I still hope the miss
 
 Through the generosity of MT. and Mrs, Sizer, the monthly display of pho- tographs from the Art Library club of Boston has been continued. These have embraced several of the choicest views in this and foreign lands which have been much admired by patrons and wis itors. For myself, hope the time may come when the parlor may be perma- nently adorned with many pictures and works of art, which will serve to please and cultivate the public taste in this direction.
 A new and reliable clock has been placed in the hall of the reading room, to take the place of one which has long distinguished itself by recording the wrong time
 Let me suggest here the feasibility of making this room more attractive by some inexpensive decorations, which would give it a more home-lilee and less barren appearance. This would be in the line of all modern clubs, of which ours Is already one of the least con- spicuous.
 One improvement we should make without much delay. I refer to our street entrance, Swinging doors at the foot of the stairs would enable us to keep the hall and stairs in a much more presentable condition, and shut off all further deposits of wheels to block the passage. Attractive signs should also be placed on the posts on either side, so that all passers-by would be made aware of our existence.
 The loss of many life members by death reduces our number so greatly in this class, that it seems to me the time has come to make some effort in this direction. Fifty dollars in one payment admits one to the privileges for which family members pay every year five dollars in advance Practically this means that life member is on the | same footing as a family member, by an outlay of two dollars per annum. If twenty life members could be secured | by some special effort, I should advise l that the money so obtained be placed | among our permanent funds. l desire to acknowledge my indebted | ness to the directors for their hearty ] cooperation, and to the officers and va rious committees for prompt attention | to their various duties The finance | committee has been very conspicuous in | holding the expenses strictly within the | fiscal appropriations. The ladies' com mittee has kept it's customary vgilant watch upon the selection of books, and | an unfit bok Is sure to be excluded by them or by our efficient book comit- tee
 In commenting the faithful loyalty of | our members let me express the hope [ that we may rely upon the continu- ance of their interest. upon which, in so large a measure, depends our steady growth In this way we e,may hope to make the Institute one of the most at tractive spots in the city to all lovers of good req ding.
 JOSEPH R. FRENCH
 President.
 New Haven, Nov. 6, 1901.