The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-11-09
YOUNG MEMS INSTITUTE.
REPORT OF THE RESIDENT FOR
 THE FEAR.
Continued Prosperity of This Old Established New Haven Institution n


 Election of Directors.
 At the annual meeting of the Young Mems Institute held Wednesday even , ing the following were elected directors for the ensuing three years: T. Attwa- ter Barnes, Edw. F. Bradley, James D Dewell, Samuel Lloyd, George F. New comb, Charles w. Scranton.
 The report of J. R. French, president of the Institute. follows;
 PRESIDENTS REPORT.
 To the Members of the Young Mems
 Institute:
 It is a cause for congratulaton that we complete our seventy-fifth year with such a degree of prosperity. We may we'll feel assured that the hopes of the founders of the Institute have been more than realized. It would have been fitting for us to have celebrated the completion of three-quarters of a cen- tury with appropriate ceremonies. But the air was full of the Bicentennial spirit, and it would have been impossi- ble to direct any of the enthusiasm towards our own organization, A brief history of its trials and successes would be valuable to us, and might awaken an interest in our future which would | strengthen us materially.
 The original design of the Institute ] was to furnish some educational advan- l tages to the young men of the city, and l incidentally to amass a small library. | At the outset, evening classes for in | struction were formed, and courses of lectures were established which were well patronized by all the citizens and students. During the anti-slavery pe- riod, the Institute brought here all the | famous orators who did so much to shape opinion in those trying times. Be | fore 1850 the public schools were of low order, magazines and newspapers were few, evening schools there were 1 none, and opportunities for social inn provement were almost entirely lack ing. These loyal citizens of New Ha- ven recognized that the hope for the welfare of the city rested with the young men, and reasoned that every ef- fort to quicken their intellectual activi- | ties would raise the standard of oiti- zenship. Money and books were con- tributed, and by degrees the growth was sufficient to warrant the erection of the old Palladium building, on Or ange street. But this proved an un- wieldly burden and the building was sold, and various moves were made to the Leffingwell building, the old State House, and finally to this building, which our trustees now own. 1 It will be satisfaction to you to be informed that the debt of thirty three hundred dollars contracted at the time of the addition to this building, has been cancelled during the year. | Through the great generosity of our former president, Major T. Attwater Barnes a considerable discount from the face of the note was made, and it was cancelled Our rent will soon give us a fair income for books, after re- serving a reasonable amount for insur- ance and repairs
 It is satisfaction to note the fact that during the current year the Young Mems Christian Association, which had no existence at the birth of the 1nsti- ute, has erected such a fine building, for the purpose of accomplishing the very ends which the Institute was founded to foster. Their facilities will furnish to every young man all the op portunities they can desire for moral, intellectual, and physical development, and it will be the pride of New Haven citizens to sustain the organization. Meantime, our work will be in differ ent channel and we shall develop our library in such a manner as to furnish the public with the best reading facill- ties at the most reasonable cost We do not attempt to build up an extensive reference library, but rather to keep pace with the current literature which will be in demand constantly for circu- ation. There is now no reason why one of our patrons cannot secure with req scnabe promptness any of the books that enjoy an exceptional popularity. We buy for the regular library five cop ies of such books, three of which are reserved upon request, and two are placed on the table, with a different label, to be taken at will. These come under the rule of first come first served" Besides this, we do not limit our number of duplicates in the "Spe- 1 cial Loan" department, for which a uniform price of ten cents a week is now charged.
 Recently, we have introduced the Special Delivery" department, in which we agree to send to the houses of our patrons any new or old book once a week, and exchange every week if the f patron desires it. We do not limit sub scribers in the choice of books, provided | the choice does not fall upon a techni- cal or subscription book. All such sub scribers have all the reading room priv ileges of our other patrons, and can browse at pleasure among our alcoves. This department is new venture, and we are unable yet to say how far we shall be able to extend such privileges. In any event, the number must be linn tied, as the expense of delivery is near ly as much as the additional income. cannot believe that lovers of good books will be content in the long run to forego the pleasure they enjoy from visits to libraries and contact in this way with those of kindred tastes. On the other hand, during indictment sea- sons of the year, it will be a great ad- vantage to some to be able to receive every week a fresh book of their own selection, without the necessity of go- ing to the library for it. The develop ment of the delivery department will be