The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-10-10
The YOUNG MEMS INSTITUTE
ANNUAL MEETING HELD LAST
EVENING.

Mems Institute was held last evening
at it's rooms, SAT Chapel street. The
year has been one of the most prosper
GUS in it's history.
The following directors were elected
for three years:
| Earliss p. Arvine,
Samuel P. Crafts,
Joseph r. French,
| Henry S. Peck,
| Henry G. Newton,
Roger S. White.
/ President French delivered his annu-
al address as follows:
| REPORT. VI
The continuous existence of the insti-
tute for more than three-quarters of a
1 century abundantly proves the wisdom
and foresight of it's founders. They
we'll knew that intelligent citizenship
would be the strongest safeguard OF the
city. To train young men in its duties
was their purpose, and to this end they
started library and reading room, and
classes of instruction. Good books. So
cial fellowship and facilities for culture
were thus offered at small cost to many
| who came hither from country homes
where their opportunities for self-im-
provement had been meagre. Some OF
our older members now recall with
pride the time when they were first
privileged by their fathers to draw a
book from the shelves of the institute.
Books were then scarce, while newspa-
pers and magazines were not uniyer-
sal possession as at the present day.
Lectures, then, were an important fac
i tor in moulding the opinions Of the peo-.
lple and spreading information on sub
Ijects Of general interest. College grad
luates of fifty years ago recall with graf
4 itude the many opportunities furnished
i them by the institute to listen to many
of the most eloquent and inspiring ora
tors of the land. For many years the
institute maintained the only popular
llecture course that was given in the
city every winter. But the change Of
times entirely modified the mission Of
the institute. The public schools, Of
which we are justly proud, furnish the
best educational facilities. Opportuni-
ties for social, moral and physical cul-
ture are within reach of all who desire
them at the splendid quarters Of the
Young Mems Christian association, and
| the beneficent work of this association
. will be incalculable in the years to
! come The Public Library, too, with its
munificent Maret fund.- is enabled to
furnish to all classes variety of books
: such as would not have been thought of
by the institute founders. With the
change of conditions our work necessa-
/ rily is modified in many ways. We
. cannot undertake to build up a large
collection Of reference books, which Is
{ more properly the province of the uni
versity and public libraries. TO the
: making of books there Is ma end, and
t the reading public has learned to have
/. a decided taste in its choice from the in
J finite collection. Most people seek in
r formation now from books of ready ref
|. erence or from cyolopedias which put
: the facts in brief space. The majority
!. Iof readers are seeking entertainment
: rather than information, and the abun-
dant current fiction offers them an at
traction which they are not inclined to
resist. The latest books are SO much a
matter of general discussion that every
| general reader must have read them Sc
as ito keep up with the procession" II
3 | is useless here to discuss the question
f of novel-reading, and its effect upon
: mental development. The fact remains
s that the demand is large for the --latest
, books and that, too, while they are
): fresh from the press No library car
b afford to furnishiand load UP its shelves
a with the large number of copies of these
e books in duplicate, which the insistant
t public requires. .s.> 6..al
/ SPECIAL LOAN DEPARTMENT.
t To meet the universal demand for the
. latest novels we have during the pas
n year filled up one of our alcoves partic.
= ularly for Special Loan books. Ere.
: |quently the demand is so great assto re.
0 quire the purchase of twenty or twenty
five duplicates. As their circulation be.
gins to diminish the books are Offered
for sale at a reduced price, and theil
places are then filled by Others In thi:
) way we avoid an accumulation of {
stock.o ephemera1 value. The shelves
are open to the public and their use il
: not restricted to our regular members
= but any one willing to pay the weekly
: rental may enjoy the privilege. Many
: patrons prefer to use this more expen
| sive method of securing the curren
= books rather than await their regula
: turn to secure the same books a littl,
less promptly. The system has all tn,
advantages offered by book clubs, o
which we have many in this city, witt
J this advantage, that the books are fur
!. nished more promptly and need not b
purchased in the end by members.
SPECIAL DELIVERY.
In June last we abandoned the system
of delivering books at the homes of Ger
tain patrons who paid an extra price TO
this service. Though it seemed popula
at first, the demand for such service dit
, not increase so as to warrant it's contin
!. uance In the long run, believe tina
: readers will prefer to go where book
are arranged on the shelves, from whicl
they can make selection after a brief in
y spection. Flattering book-notices ar
not always a safe guide for selection
and the necessity of finishing a ney
= book every week may be more of bur
n den than pleasure.
4 BOOK COMMITTEE.
i The book committee has shown it
zeal and faithfulness by meeting once
week during the greater part of tn
: year, and passing judgment upon tn
= current books as they come from tn
:" press In this work they have bee
# | aided nv occasional recommend tions n