# ^
THIRTEENTH
ANNUAL REPORT
OF TUE
TRUSTEES
OF THE PUBLIC
18 6 5.
LIBRARY.
_-=
^^^_
B 0 S T 0 xY :
i
J. E. FARWELL AND COMPANY, PRINTERS TO THE CITY, |
No. 37 CONGKESS SteKET.
1866.
City Document. — JSo, 96,
©a^n (^w iB®§'ip®irc
THIRTEENTH
ANNUAL REPORT
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY,
18 6 5
In Common Council, November 27, 1865.
Laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.
Attest : S. r. McCLEAKY. City Clerk
CITY OF BOSTON.
Public Library, 22 November, 1S65.
His Honor Frederic W. Lincoln, Jr., Mmjor of the City
of Boston : —
Sir : I have the honor to transmit to you, herewith, the
Thirteenth Annual Eeport of the Trustees of the Public Li-
brary, prepared in obedience to the fourth section of the
Ordinance relative to the Public Library, passed on the 20th
of October, 1863.
Very respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
CHARLES C. JEWETT,
Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBEAEY.
In obedience to the requisitions of an Ordinance
concerning the Public Library, passed October 20,
1863, the Trustees have the honor to submit to the
City Council thefr Thirteenth Annual
REPORT.
They cannot offer to the Municipal authorities this
their accustomed Annual Report, without a renewed
feeling of the loss, which, in common with the whole
country, they have sustained during the last year,
by the death of the eminent statesman and scholar, who,
from the first foundation of the institution committed
to their care, presided over their deliberations with
gentleness, wisdom, efnd dignity. The sorrow they ex-
pressed and recorded on the sad and sudden death of
Mr. Everett, immediately after it occurred, is still fresh
in their thoughts. They have missed him constantly
in their consultations for the welfare of the Library,
and shall continue to miss him in the coming year, as
6 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 90.
they have in the past. But they have endeavored to
be careful in the performance of the duties that have
still rested on them, sure that, so far as they may have
succeeded, they have trodden in his footsteps, and ren-
dered an appropriate tribute to his memory.
Among the more important of these duties is the one
indicated in the City Ordinance under which they act,
and which requires them to appoint every year a Com-
mittee of five citizens at large, who, together with a
Trustee as chairman, shall examine the Library, and
make report of its condition to the Trustees (Sect. 6) ;
which report the Trustees are required to transmit to
the City Council (Sect. 4). This Committee, con-
sisting of Dr. Henry I. Bowditch, as chairman, and
Rev. George F. Haskins, Dr. Thomas M. Brewer, Hon.
J. P. Putman, Dr. J. Baxter Upham, and Henry H.
Kimball, Esq., as citizens at large, was duly appointed,
on the "eleventh of July last ; and their Peport, marked
A, together with the regular Peport of the Superinten-
dent, marked B, is herewith submitted. Both are of
unusual importance, and the Trustees bespeak for them
the careful consideration of the City Government.
But, as the Trustees, by the same Ordinance (Sect.
4), are enjoined to make a separate Peport of their own
upon the condition of the Library, they would respect-
fully state : —
1. That the number of volumes added to the Library
during the year ending August 1, 1865, was 6,082, and
the number of pamphlets, 1,516.
2. That the whole number of volumes in the Library
on the 1st of August, 1865, was 123,016, and the whole
number of pamphlets was 32,558.
PUBLIC LIBRARY. 7
3. That there were lent, for home use, from the Lower
Hall and the Bates Hall, during the year endmg the
1st of August, 194,627 volumes, or an average of 707
volumes and a fraction per diem, during the 275 days
when the Library was -open.
4. That there were used for consultation in the Bates
Hall of the Library, during the same period, 13,090
volumes ; besides which, the Hall down stairs was
greatly resorted to for more popular purposes of the
same kind, its books of reference being in constant use.
5. That the number of persons visiting the Library
for some object connected with its main design was, on
a daily average, when it was open, 1,058 and a frac-
tion; so that, without including in the reckoning a
great number of persons who visited it to make less im-
portant inquiries, 290,950 visits were made to it, for
the purpose of reading in its halls, or of taking out or
consulting the books to be found on its shelves.
From these facts, and others of the same sort set
forth among the statistics in the S/iperintendent's Re-
port, hereto annexed, the Trustees have no doubt that
the Public Library is an institution eminently beneficial
and honorable to the city, and that it is now, not only
in a more useful and efficient condition than it ever was
before, but that it is actually more used, and doing
more good. They suppose that it is open more hours
in the day, and more days in the year, than any similar
institution of equal size in the world. They suppose,
too, that the number of persons who resort to it is
greater than that resorting to any similar free institu-
tion, even in cities much larger than Boston. They
should be glad to have the whole of it open every day
S CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 96.
in the year, except the days of rest and leisure pre-
scribed by law. TJiis might be difficult or onerous,
but it can hardly be deemed impossible. They are
glad, however, to be able to state that it was open from
nine o'clock in the morning to ten o'clock at night, in
its Reading Room and Lower Hall, two hundred and
eighty-one days of the year ending August 1, 1864,
thus leaving, after the deduction of Sundays, thirty-two
days only for the secular holidays prescribed by law,
and for the time consumed in the examination and
cleaning of the whole establishment. Five more days
were added for the yeur ending in August, 1865, in
consequence of events connected with the condition of
the country, or on occasions ordered by the city author-
ities. The Trustees do not suppose that it will be
easy to find a more satisfactory record in the case of
any library so large and so perfectly free, though it
may be possible hereafter to make one.
It is worthy of notice, too, that the resort to the Public
Library has increased with remarkable regularity, in
proportion as its benefits have been felt more and more
widely through the community. In this respect, it has
not only extravagantly outrun the hopes of such among
its earliest friends as were most sanguine in their per-
suasions of its importance and success ; but it has en-
couraged them to think that the next generation, and
the generations successively to follow, may, with its
increasing resources and their increasing use, develop
benefits to our community which were anticipated by
nobody at its foundation. Among the remarkable re-
sults obtained by Mr. Babbage's remarkable calculating
machine, perhaps none was more striking than the fact,
PUBLIC LIBRARY. 9
that it was found to perform operations not in the least
foreseen by the genius of its inventor. The Trustees
think that results equally unforeseen may be obtained
from the knowledge and power that will hereafter be
spread through our society by the Public Library, when
it shall have become what, by a wise forecast and faith-
ful diligence, it seems likely to become at no far dis-
tant day. Indeed, they think that some such results
are already indicated. Nobody, even a few years ago,
supposed that it would do the work it is now doing.
But, while the Trustees believe that much good has
been done by the Public Library, and that more is
doing now than was ever done before, they are far from
supposing that the institution itself is perfect, either in
its organization or in its management. They regard it
as an experiment, still not very far advanced for an
establishment with purposes so wide and so far reach-
ing. It was begun only thirteen years ago, with very
small resources, and very modest hopes. In this short
period, it has risen from a collection of a few thousand
volumes to above a hundred and twenty thousand, and
from a circulation of about seven thousand a year to
one of above a hundred and ninety thousand. . In the
meantime, the very simple and free system on which it
was first put in motion has worked so well, and has
proved so satisfactory to those who have been most
familiar with it, and most benefited by it, that the
Trustees have been anxious to avoid changes, and have,
in fact, thus far, made none of decisive importance.
But, at last. Time has done its inevitable work, and
developed wants and defects, for which, so far as the
10 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 90.
case may admit remedies, they should be found and
apphed.
On two points connected with defects in the system
and management of the Library, the Trustees have, for
sometime, been especially anxious, and they are the
more desirous to speak of them, because the remedy
for the evils to which they respectively refer must, in a
large degree, be applied by the public.
The first of them relates to the manner in which a
portion of the persons resorting to the Library have
accepted the large confidence reposed in them. As it
has been already explained in this Report, the Library
has, from the first, been opened to our whole commu-
nity with a freedom quite extraordinary. And this has
not been unintentionally done. On the contrary, the
Trustees have desired to offer its resources, with every
justifiable facility, to the largest number of persons pos-
sible. At the outset, therefore, they laid no restrictions
on any of its means of instruction or improvement, ex-
cept such as were obviously inevitable for their pro-
tection and preservation, and none have been added
since which have not, by the same considerations, been
imperatively demanded. At first the Trustees were led
to hope that their success had been absolute ; that all
had received and used the attractive privileges of the
institution in the liberal and faithful spirit that had
offered them. But, before long, it was found that a
number of books were defaced by vulgar writing in
them. Others were wilfully mutilated. A few disap-
peared. Still, the evil was so very small, and the
benefits from the freest use of the Library were so great
and so certain, that no change was deemed desirable.
PUBLIC LIBRARY. H
Everything was left as unrestricted as possible; but
everything was exactly reported to the City Govern-
ment.
In 1857, the evil had somewhat increased ; — not
much, indeed, but still so much that it began to be
noticed more anxiously in the Annual Reports of the
Xrustees, where it has continued to appear ever since.
Even the Reading Room, with its excellent collection of
periodical literature and works of reference, — where
everybody has been admitted with the least possible
reckoning or reserve, — has, for the first time during
the last year, become the subject of abuses too serious
to be overpassed. Since the first of December last,
forty-six numbers of difi"erent valuable journals have
been stolen ; — many more have been mutilated by
cutting out what was deemed useful or agreeable by
the persons who so shamelessly abused the privileges
they enjoyed ; — and a still greater number have been
so wilfully defaced that it is necessary to replace them
by other copies. In the Library, there has been a cor-
responding unprecedented abuse. During the year end-
ing August 1, four hundred and eighty-nine books
disappeared, which it has not been possible to trace
and recover ; and many more were mutilated and other-
wise wilfully and discreditably ill-treated. The Trus-
tees make these statements with great regret and pain.
• Still, they do not believe that any large number of the
persons who availed themselves of the resources of the
Library, so frankly ofi"ered to them, have been guilty of
theft. Nor do they believe that any large proportion of
them have been guilty of the mean and vulgar ofi"ences
of writing in the books or of mutilating them. But,
12 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 96.
whether the iiiinibcr of offenders be hirge or small, the
evil has become, at last, a great one ; and the Trustees
are advised by the City Solicitor that, in some important
respects, this evil is beyond the reach of punishment by
the present laws of the Commonwealth and the present
Ordinances of the city. They have, therefore, for some
time, been -anxiously endeavoring to find for it mearj^
of prevention, which they have authority to apply, and
they are not without the hope that they may succeed in
discovering such as will in some good degree prove
effectual, and yet interfere little with the extraordinary
freedom now enjoyed in the use of the Library. Mean-
time they are much gratified to observe that the great
abuses here referred to have attracted the attention of
the Examining Committee for the present year, who
have made suggestions in relation to them of which it
will be the duty of the Trustees carefully and faithfully
to avail themselves.
Another point on which the Trustees have failed to
obtain the assistance they have sought from the public
is, that they have received so few suggestions concern-
ing the titles of books which, from time to time, it may
be deemed desirable to add to the shelves of the "insti-
tution. The Trustees have always endeavored to sup-
ply the Library with such books, but it is impossible
that they should know the wants of the many persons
who use it, so well as their wants are known to those
persons themselves. At the outset, the Trustees ap-
plied to above fifty eminent men, in different parts of the
United States, for lists of such books as, in their par-
ticular departments, they might think most desirable for
such a Library. From all to whom they addressed
PUBLIC LIBRARY. • 13
themselves they received kind and, generally, ample
answers. The books that could be best obtained in the
United States vs^ere bought at once. Large lists of
others were sent to Mr. Bates, in London, and he having
caused them to be examined, presented at once to the
Library an admirable collection of books from different
parts of Europe, w^hich still constitute the foundations
of its strength. Many more have been bought since,
both at home and abroad, from the income of the large
fund he had, earlier, munificently given us, as well as
from the income of other funds, given in the same
spirit by other liberal friends of the Library ; and not a
few more are still on orders in the hands of our agents,
waiting only for the needful appropriations.
But the Trustees have at no time been satisfied with
what they could themselves do, or what they could ob-
tain to be done by persons whose aid they could pri-
vately ask. They have appealed to all who resort to the
Library. By one of the standing " Rules, etc.," given,
from the first, to each person who claims the privileges
of the institution, every such person who does not find
belonging to the Library any book that he may need,
" is particularly requested to enter its title on a card
which the Librarian will furnish for the purpose."
Few answered the appeal. Disappointed in this call
for help, the Trustees, about five years ago, caused a
printed notice to be put into every book lent from the
Library during a fortnight, inviting especial attention to
this regulation, and earnestly asking for suggestions
concerning books that it might be deemed judicious to
purchase. Of these notices, many thousands were put
into the books lent ; and in this way, and in other ways,
14 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 9C.
it was hoped that nearly, or quite all, of those most
interested in the Library, or often using it, would be
reached. But less than twenty-five books were asked
for in consequence. Of course, they were all bought
as fast as they could be obtained, and there that par-
ticular movement ended.
Nor has the general result for the whole period
during which the Library has been open, and this
system of solicitation has been before the public, proved
more satisfactory. In the record of all requests, kept
in a separate ledger, and marked " Books asked for," it
appears that between September 19, 1854, and Septem-
ber 19, 1865, considerably less than three hundred re-
quests a year were made. But it is not uninstructive
to observe how many of the books thus asked for were
asked for without proper reflection or inquiry, since, by
the same record, it appears that, before the requests
were made, the very books asked for were already on
the shelves, and in the catalogues of the Library.
Where, however, neither this nor any other valid ob-
jection existed to the purchase of the works in ques-
tion, they have been regularly ordered, and, with few
exceptions, obtained. But, notwithstanding their want
of success thus far in this plan, the Trustees still deem
it a wise and liberal one, and do not propose to abandon
it. They only hope that they may have more assistance
in carrying it out, and so be enabled to purchase, in
larger numbers, not only good books, but books urgently
w^anted. Meantime, they will, as heretofore, do the best
they can to obtain such, whether they are helped in the
w^ork or not. On the present occasion, they would
PUBLIC LIBRARY. 15
gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Examining
Committee, who have given them valuable lists of books
to be bought. It is the first time the Trustees have ever
been thus aided. They hope that it may not be the
last.
Besides these two important points, however, there
are others to which the attention of the Trustees is
especially called by the gentlemen of the Examining
Committee, but which, from their number and im-
portance, it is obviously impossible to discuss in a Report
like the present. But that each and all of them will
receive the faithful and diligent consideration of the
Trustees, the Trustees themselves here venture to say,
in advance, is not doubtful. Indeed, the more serious
of them have, for some months, been under active in-
vestigation, and most of thfe others for a shorter or
longer time. In any event, however, the Trustees think
it right and needful on this occasion to say, that what-
ever may be ultimately decided, and whatever changes
they may be called to make in the management of the
Library, they shall rely on the support they have always
received in their efforts to make it what a great institu-
tion for public instruction ought to be. Such changes
cannot, indeed, be favorable to the wishes and prac-
tices of those persons who have so grossly abused the
privileges they have so freely enjoyed. They may even
trench, in some degree — but, it is believed, in a very
slight one — on the convenience of others. But, what-
ever may be done, can be done only to protect the prop-
erty and reputation of the city, and in defence of the
rightful claims and privileges of those honest and
16 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 96.
honorable classes among ns to whose welfare, and that
of their children, the Library and its management
always have been dedicated, and always should be.
All which is respectfully submitted,
GEO. TICKNOR,
♦ J. P. BIGELOW,
NATHL. B. SHUETLEFF,
WM. W. GREENOUGH,
HENRY I. BOWDITCH,
W. W. CLAPP, Jr.,
JOSEPH STORY.
Public Library, November 14, 1865.
[A]
REPORT OF THE EXAMINING COMMITTEE.
In accordcance with tlie 6th section of the City Ordinance, re-
lative to the Public Library, the undersigned present the fol-
lowing
EEPORT.
They have examined the institution under the four general
heads usually taken by their predecessors, viz. : 1st. Books ;
2d. Catalogues; 3d. Building; 4th. Administration.
I. BOOKS.
The Committee refer to the Superintendent's Eeport for
many of the statistics of the Library. They examined the
books in the various alcoves, and found all, so far as they could
judge, in excellent order.
They learned that during the recess every volume had been
taken down and dusted, and each shelf had been washed. An
air of great neatness, consequently, prevailed everywhere.
At the first meeting of the Committee, it was decided that
each member should undertake a specific investigation in some
branch with which he was particularly interested. It was be-
lieved that greater good would result to the Library than if only
one person were to make a general report.
3
13 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 96.
The folloAving questions were thus rcfcrrctl : —
The present condition and wants of the Library in the
Departments of Theology.
" Law.
'* Medicine.
" Natural History.
*« Music.
" American History.
Besides the above, the two following questions were referred
to another sub-committee : —
1. The use and the abuse of the books, and the remedies for
the latter.
2. How far have the original wishes of the chief founder of
the Library, Mr. Bates, been complied with?
These various sub-committees made separate reports, In
writing, which were discussed at a general meeting. The re-
sults are embodied in the following brief statements, and the
original reports are deposited with the Trustees. Lists of
books, suggested In some of the departments, are transmitted,
and it Is hoped that they will, to some extent, meet the oft-re-
peated request of the Trustees for assistance In this direction.
On Theology, It Is reported that, in the opinion of the sub-
committee, " the Library contains the most fair and the best
collection of works on theology. Catholic and non-Catholic, of
any library in Boston."
On Law, the Reporter says that It cannot be expected that
the collection would be complete. Yv'hile the Library Is a very
valuable one, and contains works on International Law, etc.,
he thinks that " some Important text-books and treatises by
English and American writers on these subjects should be pro-
cured. In addition to those already there. The works now
found are too exclusively In foreign languages."
He annexes a list of books, which he recommends should be
purchased, on International Law, public and private, on the
PUBLIC LIBRAKY. 19
conflict of laws, including the codes of the principal States of
Europe ; State papers, — State trials ; works on the science of
Government and political economy.
The statutes of the United States and of the individual States
should be made more complete ; and, by proper correspondence
with the State Departments, these might readily be procured,
at little expense to the city.
The reports of adjudicated cases, and the decisions of the
Supreme Courts of the United States and of Massachusetts,
should likewise be made more complete.
The Eeporter of the Medical Department finds an excellent
groundwork.
It contains 3,638 volumes, exclusive of those in the Parker
and Bowditch collections. He finds many of the best works of
plates ever published, and the writings of many of the earlier
authors, and not a few of those of modern time.
Several valuable medical journals, published in America,
Great Britain, and on the European Continent, are also found
here. The Library is, in fact, superior, in his opinion, in this
respect, to any other library in Boston.
He suggests : —
1. That some imperfect sets of these journals should be made
complete.
2. That valuable works, published by American authors,
should be procured.
3. That the Library, though containing many valuable old
works, and some recent ones, has not quite kept up with the
progress of medicine the last few years. A list of books for
purchase is laid before the Trustees.
The Reporter on the Natural History Department finds the
subject "imperfectly represented." This, however, was to be
expected. A good beginning has been made. " A more
thorough system might be followed in supplying the absent
requisites for a more perfect illustration of the several branches
of Natural History."
20 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 96.
Our American publications on Botany, Zoology, &c., should
be purchased ; proceedings of societies obtained. All general
works of systematic classification of the natural sciences should
be there. It is not advisable, with the present means at the
disposal of the Trustees, to buy expensive works, but the neces-
saries, rather than the luxuries, should be procured.
The Reporter on Music gives the honor of originating this
department to the munificence of Mr. Bates, who purchased a
valuable private library of 600 volumes, offered at auction in Ber-
lin. Though small, it is admirable ; especially rich in early printed
works of the 15th and 16th centuries, " rare and valuable.''
Little additions have been made since. Oliver Ditson has
generously given all pieces published by him. As the collection
now stands, it represents fairly the theoretical, the biographical,
and historical departments of music. Musical journalism, too,
is well represented in fifty volumes of the Allgemeine Musical-
ische Zeitung, &c. But, with a few exceptions, we have not
the complete works of any of the great composers. It is a
foundation only for a library. The Reporter thinks this depart-
ment should be kept up, in order to meet the future wants of
this community, which, under the present system of teaching
music to every child in our public schools, must, within a few
years, become thoroughly grounded in a knowledge of the
principles of music, and will, therefore, look to the Public
Library for improvement and means of study in this depart-
'ment. The Handel and Haydn Society and Harvard Musical
Association will also tend to the same end, viz : the education
of our people in this branch. Hence, the still greater impor-
tance of making this department equal to the demand that will
be made upon it.
The Reporter on American History and Biography says that
the collection is very small and very deficient in what the Com-
mittee thinks the most important works an American Library
should possess. Time and money avIII be needed to get many
books, but to no better use could their means be employed, for
PUBLIC LIBRARY. 21
every day the works are growing scarcer and more valuable,
and by-and-by neither time nor money will procure them. Al-
lusions are made to large collections of English county histories
(the munificent gift of Mr. Bates), and he suggests that
vigorous exertions should be made to obtain similar ones from
America ; of State, county, and local historical and biographical
works relating to our own country. As very small editions of
this class are printed, oftentimes privately or by subscription,
some method better than that believed to have been used by the
Trustees should be put in operation.
The plan now used, of having one bookseller in Boston send
the books he has in his possession is good, but insufficient for
the purpose. Some agent should be appointed in all the large
cities to secure every original book or tract relating to American
history.
If the British Museum adds to its collection all original Amer-
ican works, surely the Boston City Library should contain all
those pertaining to its local history, or that of the State or
nation of which it is a part.
The Reporter on the Abuse of Books fully sustains the
views of the General Committee, as shown in a subsequent part
of this Report.
There is, in his view, no doubt of the gravity of this evil,
not only as injuring city property, but in its influence upon the
youths of the city, in teaching them to desecrate rather than
respect books. To see the evil is easy, to correct it difficult.
The system of recording the books must be made more ac-
curate, so as to be able to trace a book when one is given out.
He proposes a heavy assessment for any injury. A constant
collation of books should be made, and the last borrower should
be held responsible. Greater promptness In the return of
volumes should be required, and, finally, certain officers of the
institution should be vested by law, with judicial and police
powers, for the arrest of offenders, etc.
The Committee on the question ichether the wishes of Mr.
22 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 96.
Bates liavc been complied ivUh, reports, that, if anything is want-
ing to that end, it may be tliat the young men wlio resort to
the Eeading lloom in the evening arc more restricted in their
use of books in the Upper Ilall than is desirable, owing to the
impossibihty, under the present arrangements, of getting books
from the alcoves after dark.
THE SUCCESS OF THE LIBRARY.
Taken in connection with the Superintendent's Report, these
documents show, in many respects, a very gratifying result.
In fact, when it is remembered that in thirteen years from the
first germ of the Library being planted, over one hundred and
twenty thousand volumes have been accumulated ; that last year
we circulated nearly two hundred thousand volumes among our
citizens ; that, at least, three quarters of these volumes have
been given to the city ; and, finally, that the Library has also
received ninety-six thousand dollars, which are invested in the
city six per cent, stocks, the interest of which must be devoted
to the purchase of books, the result cannot but be regarded
as truly extraordinary, and a sufficient proof of the foresight and
wisdom of the early advocates of the Library. The cause of this
success seems obvious. The Library had been for some time
unconsciously called for, if such an expression may be allowed,
by our community. It was, as Mr. Everett has said, in one of
the previous Reports, simply the complement of our Common
School System, and, as such, was needed, as its crowning grace
in this city. The Committee would hail with pleasure the
establishment of similar institutions in all the greater cities and
towns of our land. Hereafter, the sneer has no weight here,
which says that the Common School System affords a wide-
spread, but very superficial education for the masses ; but that
real learning is wholly neglected by it. At this Library,
learned men now resort with profit. A few weeks since, an
eminent professor, connected with one of our colleges, was seen
consulting, in the Upper Hall, books that he said could be
PUBLIC LIBRARY. 23
found nowhere else on this continent. Even at this early period
of the history of the Library, the earnest student can, if he
choose, make here extensive study on almost any favorite topic.
In some specialties, few libraries of its size in either hemisphere
are so rich.
In the free circulation of the books in the Lower Hall, there
is no institution, so far as the undersigned know, comparable with
it. A broad and deep foundation has evidently been laid by
the original managers of the institution ; and, as it has become
one of the jewels of the city, it is believed that the city will always
duly cherish it by granting, from time to time, all the facilities
possible to enable the Trustees rightly to sustain it.
THE BENEFITS EXTEND BEYOND THE LIMITS OF THE CITY.
The Committee cannot but feel regret that the right to re-
ceive benefit from the institution, so far as the direct action of
the City Government is concerned, has not been extended be-
yond our own citizens ; but a margin of discretion in this regard
is permitted to the Trustees.
The undersigned are fully aware that it would be impossible
to allow every one out of the city to take books from the Li-
brary. But it is the unanimous opinion of your Committee
that any one from any quarter of the globe who presents proper
credentials to the Trustees or Superintendent, that prove him
to be engaged in literary or scientific pursuits, or desirous of fol-
lowing, for a special purpose, or for a certain time, a particular
line of study, should be allowed the privilege of consulting the
books, and of copying therefrom, though not of removing them
from the building, except under the special and individual re-
sponsibility of one or more of the Trustees that such books
shall be properly cared for, and returned within the time al-
lotted; and provided, moreover, that they shall be easily re-
turnable if another person, having rights in the Library, shall
need them. The City Government, therefore, acted wisely in
leaving: this matter somewhat in the hands of the Trustees ; and
24 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 06.
it is to be hoped that the Trustees, while jealously guarding the
best interests of the city, will interpret this permission in the
most liberal manner, in order that the Library may fulfil, to
the utmost, its important mission in this community.
True learning ought not and cannot be confined to one city
and one community. Like the air, it overflows all narrow
limits. In every way possible, therefore, we ought to cultivate
sound learning outside, as well as inside of our own limits, be-
cause good will therefrom flow back upon us. Such charity is,
indeed, *' twice blessed."
ABUSE OF BOOKS.
This subject earnestly engaged the attention of the whole
Committee. Upon this topic the undersigned refer to the re-
port made by one of their number, an abstract of which is given
above. They, however, cannot forbear expressing their pro-
found astonishment that there should be any persons in this
community so lost to all respect for books, and so regardless of
their own duties to this community, through whose liberality
they are all enabled to take out and to use the books, that they
can be guilty of wilfully injuring some of the most valuable
works contained in the Library. Doubtless, many mark on the
leaves and do other injury from thoughtlessness. This palli-
ation cannot be extended to others, who are evidently gross
culprits, and, as such, should be dealt with by the higher power
of the law. It would be impossible to cite the numerous abuses
of this kind ; but two come up prominently before the Commit-
tee. A long addition sum, occupying the whole of the fly-
leaf of a fine copy of " Enoch Arden," is a specimen of thoiight-
hssncss. A gross attack upon the memory of our martyred
President, written in doggerel lines and surmounted by the late,
so-called, Confederate States' flag, on the fly-leaf of another
equally valuable work, is a specimen of the wilful injury of city
property. Evidently, it has become the duty of some one to
see that such desecration shall not be allowed hereafter. Other!^
PUBLIC LIBRARY. 25
wise, in addition to the injury which the Library will sustain,
we shall encouragfi, not a sacred regard for books, but shall
promote in the youth of this community a tendency to the dese-
cration of them, than which scarcely anything could be more
injurious in a Republic.
FURTHER LEGISLATION BY THE STATE DEEMED NECESSARY
TO CURE THIS DIFFICULTY.
As this is a general subject, and similar troubles will arise in
other cities of the Commonwealth, the State should be appealed
to ; because, on occasions of gross misuse of the books, and in
which the evidence seemed all-sufficient to convict, the City So-
licitor declared the contrary to be the fact under the present law.
The Committee would, therefore, respectfully, but earnestly,
submit to the Trustees, whether the time has not fully come for
them, as guardians of this city property, to give official notice
to the city authorities that the Trustees cannot, under existing
laws, properly defend what has been committed to them, and for
asking that the city would appeal to the State for further legis-
lation upon the subject.
OTHER PLANS TO PREVENT THE ABUSE OF BOOKS.
The undersigned would also suggest the propriety of having
the books from a part of the Library carefully collated when
taken, and when they are returned to the Library, whatever the
expense that may be incurred in so doing, in order that, imme-
diately upon any injury having been committed, the offender
may be punished by a withdrawal of his right to take out
books until the Trustees have acted upon the case. It may be
a question whether a similar plan might not be pursued in this
Library to that followed, at times, by the British Museum, viz. :
whether the most grossly abused books should not be conspic-
uously placed to the public view? This method, whether
thought wise or not by the Trustees, would be very effective in
preventing similar offences being hereafter committed. Notices
4
26 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 96.
might also be posted on the backs of the books, requesting every
citizen to aid in preventing injury to them, arid informing offen-
ders that they will be punished. If the State should pass any
law, the legal penalty for abuse should be also thus placed on
every book.
A BETTER SYSTEM FOR RECORDING BOOKS, BORROWED FROM
THE LIBRARY, SHOULD BE INTRODUCED, IF WE WOULD CURB
THIS EVIL.
It needs no argument to prove that the strictest accuracy at-
tainable should be attempted. This proposition is self-evident,
even on the most general grounds, and to meet two important
difficulties, viz. : the abuse of, and the loss of, books, it becomes
of paramount importance. Nothing can be done towards check-
ing these growing evils, unless we can trace with perfect ac-
curacy and ease the passage of books to and from the Library.
Your Committee are well aware of the difficulty surrounding
this subject, and admit that when six or twelve hundred volumes
are given out in one day, very rapid action is necessary. But,
just in proportion to the numbers thus taken out, must be the
caution observed in all our records. The present method, al-
though it answered very well in the earlier days of the Library,
is evidently unfitted for present use in the vastly enlarged cir-
culation of the books. It is an undoubted fact that it is im-
possible for any one to know by this method who has had a
particular cop]] of a book within five minutes after its return to
the Library, unless, perchance^ the discovery may be made by a
long and tedious examination of the records. The discovery
would be im-possihle if the book were a favorite one, and if
several copies of it had been asked for at the same time. There
might be other objections made to the present method, but your
Committee have no desire to discuss, in detail, any of the im-
perfections of this or that course, but simply to state that, during
their investigations in regard to the abuse of books, they were
led to look at the present method of recording them. Hearing
PUBLIC LIBRARY. 27
from the Librarian tliat some years since another had been de-
vised by J. C. J. Brown, Esq., a former Trustee, they asked
for an interview with that gentleman, and had a detailed state-
ment of his plans. The Committee were gratified with that
interview. They would respectfully and unanimously urge the
adoption of Mr. Brown's system, or some other equally good
plan.
A statement of Mr. Brown's system may be found among the
Reports of the Sub-Committees, and is respectfully presented
for the consideration of the Trustees.
LOSS OF BOOKS.
Of the fifteen books noticed by the Superintendent in last
year's Report as having been then missing from the Bates Hall,
and not charged to any one, eight have come to light. Seven
remain unaccounted for. Nineteen books have disappeared in
the same way from the same Hall this past year, of which two
have already been found. To lose books by the fault of others
who are borrowers is the fate of every library. It would require
an unceasing vigilance, an almost superhuman amount of cau-
tion and wisdom, to prevent it. But to have books leave the
shelves, and to be unable to trace them, excites very painful
emotions. Is it possible that any one connected with the Li-
brary, from Trustees to the lowest official, ever takes thought-
lessly, or for any cause, however worthy, a book out of the
building without proper record? If so, such loss is easily ex-
plained, and if such a proceeding be allowed by the Trustees or
Superintendent, it seems to your Committee that it should be,
by express vote of the Trustees, in future prevented. The
number of books missing from the Lower Hall is 529. Less
than 100 have been regained. The Committee regret to learn
that more than one half of the whole is probably lost, and that
of the delinquents in the Lower Hall none can be positively
traced. The Committee cannot but anticipate an improvement
in this respect in future, if Mr. Brown's plan be adopted and its
provisions in regard to delinquents vigorously carried out every week.
28 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 96.
YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO DEMAND
MANr BOOKS, AT A TIME, UPON THE CARDS OF OLDER
PERSONS.
Children under eighteen years of age are not, by the rules of
the Librai-y, permitted to have cards for receiving books ; but,
with a laudable desire to extend as widely as possible the benefits
of the institution, persons having cards have been permitted to
send their children or servants for books. This seems reason-
able ; but it is evident that due discretion has not been exercised
in this regard by parents and others who have received cards.
This has become a very serious evil. Small children are seen
not unfrequently carrying away more books and larger ones
than they can conveniently hold. One of your Committee saw,
on a rainy day, two small girls carrying five books, and holding
them in such a tvay that it was evident that a very small acci-
dent would throw some of the five volumes into the gutter.
Eight or ten books have at times been taken out by one individ-
ual at one time. Books are found on the Common, left there
by the takers of them, who, perhaps, will repeat the careless-
ness the following day, because by the present method of giving
out books, as has already been stated, it would be impossible,
unless with the greatest difficulty, to discover who had left them
thus exposed. Obviously such carelessness, and so large a
number of books being taken out at once, should be stopped.
Your Committee would respectfully suggest whether the number
of books taken by one person on various cards should not be
limited, and whether any rule can be adopted whereby too
young children and irresponsible persons should be restrained
from taking any, or, at least, more than one at a time.
CARE OF PAJVIPHLETS AND DUPLICATES OF JOURNALS.
During the examination of the various rooms in the building,
aside from the Library rooms proper, the Committee were
struck with an apparent want of care in the arranging of various
PUBLIC LIBRARY. 29
pamphlets said to be duplicates, and numbers of journals be-
longing to sets waiting to be made perfect. All such should be
so distinctly labelled and so neatly arranged that every one at a
glance could recognize the series collected in each group. Some
of the closets and parts of the cellar are occupied by books and
pamphlets, apparently thrown together in a way to produce con-
fusion. Such should not be the fact, and the Committee draws
the attention of the Trustees to it. They would also respect-
fully inquire whether it would not be well to inaugurate a more
thorough system of communication with the various libraries of
the country, whereby exchanges of duplicates might be pro-
cured? On inquiry, it appears that, owing to various causes,
no regular files of various journals have been uniformly kept ;
and it seems, at present, impossible to learn definitely about the
whole subject. The Committee learn with pleasure that the
Trustees have recently employed in the Library one amply
qualified to superintend this matter, and who is to be made re-
sponsible for the preservation of accurate series of the various
periodicals. The Committee would urge the propriety of these
several works being immediately put into the binder's hands on
the termination of a volume, and that if, perchance, any number
be wanting, that number be immediately bought, so that' the
volume may be forthwith placed upon its proper shelf.
FACILITIES FOR USING THE BOOKS.
These may, it is believed, be improved. The Library is now
large enough to be made in every manner useful to the student.
Two things are important to this end, viz. : First, catalogues,
well-arranged, complete, and accessible; and, second, an at-
tendant, by whose assistance the resources of the Library, not
attainable from the catalogues, may be known. Of course, there
will always be some, and generally a large number of books
whose titles will not appear on the printed catalogues. These
books are, as soon as practicable, entered in an interleaved cata-
logue ; but even this cannot possibly be kept up to the last ac-
30 CITY DOCUMENT. -No. 96.
quisitions. Besides, there are many persons so unskilful as not
to be able to use advantageously a catalogue of the simplest con-
struction, and whose inquiries, therefore, would not be met
by anything of the kind. There are others, on the contrary,
quite able to use with skill any means in their power, and yet,
when entering upon any special subject of investigation, they may
be at a loss what books to ask for. Now, to both of these classes
an attendant might be able to make valuable suggestions. This
attendant should be one of the higher officers of the institution,
a courteous and able man, who, from his well-stored mind and
thorough acquaintance with at least the outlines of the varied
learning contained in the Library, might be able to suggest to
a student some of the books most likely to aid him in his inves-
tigations. This duty would naturally devolve first upon the
Superintendent ; and the Committee are Informed that he is very
frequently thus consulted. But it is obvious that, with the-
various duties now resting on tliat officer, he could not be sub-
jected to nvmerous Inquiries of the kind ; yet your Committee
fully believe that such an officer will be eventually needed, and
that, at present, he would be of Infinite Importance to the
thorough carrying forward of the beneficent objects of the
Public Library.
VALUABLE PLATES AND BOOKS ; SHOULD THEY BE OPENED
TO THE 'public AT LARGE?
This subject is a delicate matter, and yet it should be care-
fully considered. It is plain that no course should be pursued
which will, in the end, tend to ruin valuable and very expen-
sive plates. Yet that is what must happen in the daily exhibi-
tions to the public of such plates as the splendid ones by
Audubon, those by Lepsius on Egypt, and others. Al-
ready, some of them are, In a measure. Irretrievably
marred, and the Committee suggest that these, and others
of the same class, should not be opened to the whole public,
and that the free use of them by casual visitors, such as at
present prevails, be materially modified.
PUBLIC LIBRARY. 31
PROCURING OF NEW BOOKS.
Complaints have been made to members of the Committee
that new books are not procured at the City Library as they
are at private circulating libraries, where gain is the object.
If this complaint may be true, — and, from the repeated state-
ment of it, and from what your Committee have observed, they
believe that it is so, — then it is obviously the duty of the Trus-
tees to see that it be otherwise in future, at least for the ma-
jority of books published. It is, however, but just to the Trus-
tees to remark that the proprietors of circulating libraries,
opened for purposes of gain, are not required to be so circumspect
as to the character of the books they place upon their shelves
as the Trustees of our City Public Library should be. The
former give their chief attention to the novelties of literature,
much of which is often of a transitory nature, while the Trus-
tees of this institution are bound to dispense the means at their
disposal, not alone on new and popular works, but upon those
that will prove of permanent value and usefulness.
Moreover, no just complaint can be made by any one who
has failed to attend to the oft-repeated request of the Trustees,
as provided in the following : —
" Whenever a hook wanted by any one usmg the Library, does
not belong to it, such iierson is particularly requested to enter the
title of the book on a card furnished for tlie purpose, to which the
person^ s name and residence shall be added."
The Committee cannot forbear alluding to the above standing
rule of the Trustees. They do this for the purpose of bringing
it prominently before their fellow-citizens. It is evidently not
as yet fully known to the public. It has often been alluded to
in other Reports, and it is hoped that every one hereafter, after
making an unsuccessful application for a book, will act upon it.
II. CATALOGUES.
The various catalogues were examined. In previous Reports,
they have been described. It seems unfortunate that the shelf
32 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 96.
catalogues in tlie Lower Hull should not bo in perfect order.
A very large number of books are still catalogued on separ-
ately-written sheets, instead of being fairly transcribed in the
blank-books intended for these records.
But a for more serious difficulty has been noticed, in the
sluggish manner with which the " Supplement" to the " Index'*
is printing. A few facts in connection with this subject, the
Committee desire to refer to, before making any suggestion
in the premises. The larger " Index," printed several years
ago, contains nine hundred and two pages, and those who were
then City Printers completed it in nineteen months, without
complaint from any one as to any want of promptness of action
on their part. Sixteen months have already elapsed since the
"Supplement" was commenced by the present printers, and
only three hundred pages are printed. Seven hundred pages,
in all, will probably be needed before it will be finished, which,
at the rate of printing during the first sixteen months, would
take more than three years, from commencement to its comple-
tion ; and all this while new books would be added preparatory
to a new Supplement. The Committee learn with pleasure that
the Trustees have made many efforts to procure more rapid print-
ing, and of late a great improvement is perceptible. The fault
has appeared to lie chiefly with the present arrangements, and
partly, at least, in the fact that the present City Printers have had
a much smaller font of a certain type than their predecessors had.
It may, therefore, be a question, whether the city be not a real
loser, when it takes from the Trustees the right of selecting the
printers of such an immense and peculiarly difficult work as this
has proved to be. The Committee believe that no private per-
son or business corporation would submit to such uncalled-for
delays, or allow of the removal of agents qualified, and in every
respect willing, to perform their duty, simply on political grounds.
As this subject will be perpetually recurring, owing to the fact
that printing will be going on much of the time, in cataloguing
books to be hereafter deposited in the Library, the Committee
PUBLIC LIBRARY. 33
would submit to the Trustees the question whether it wouhl not
be well to petition the City Government to allow the institution
to choose its own printers, as it chooses its other officers, provided
that no increased expense be incurred by the city beyond what
would be incurred were the regular city printers to undertake
the work.
III. BUILDING.
The Committee examined the building. It is in good order
in its various parts, except in the southeast corner, near the
staircase, there is evidently a leakage, the wall being stained
by the water that has penetrated near the windows. Fortu-
nately, it does not come near the Library proper. But it is
very evident that, ere many years, additional rooms will be
needed. Much of the clerical duties and the binding of many
books are now carried on in the alcoves of the Upper Hall.
Rooms ought to be provided for these duties. But, ere long, we
shall have so many very valuable books or plates, that accom-
modation will be needed for them. The English patent specifi-
cations have already increased so much that the small room
devoted to them is inadequate to the purpose. The large col-
lection of maps and charts can hardly be said to have any place
really allotted to them, and to exhibit a large map the floor of
an alcove is the only place, at present, available. The under-
signed would suggest that the room formerly intended as a
Ladies' Reading Room should be devoted to the more valuable
plates, maps, patent specifications, and works of art, until such
time as the growth of the Library shall require further buildings
to be erected.
WANT OF LIGHT IN THE ALCOVES IN THE UPPER HALL.
It is a very grave defect in the construction of the building
that it is nearly impossible, even with a brilliant sunlight com-
ing in from the ceiling at noonday, to read some of the smaller
printed titles on the backs of books in the depths of the lower
6
34 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 9G.
alcoves. This should be remedied, if possible. Various
methods have been suggested. It appears that, for some rea-
son not very obvious to the undersigned, the building originally
was erected Avith the intention of having windows in the fluted
sides. No sucli windows were subsequently made. The result
is, the great want of light spoken of. On consultation with the
architect, Mr. Kirby, it appears that two methods might be
pursued: 1st. Remove the flutings entirely; carry up the
building directly in the line of the wall of the Lower Reading
Rooms, as might be done with perfect safety. A window might
then be opened in each alcove, and enough light obtained ; but
it would be very expensive, and might, while the alterations were
making, disturb those who frequented the Library. Whether
this course be pursued in regard to the present building or not,
the Committee cannot but hope that, when the time comes for
enlarging the main building, the fluting will be given up, and a
plain wall, with windows enough in it to afford the amplest
supply of light, be erected. 2d. A circular window might
easily be opened in each alcove, as the building now stands ;
but it would derange the present situation of several of the
books. The Committee would not recommend either course,
but would earnestly repeat the necessity for more light, and
leave it to the Trustees to devise the method for obtaining it.
WOEKS OF AET IN THE UPPER LIBEAEY ROOM.
The Committee cannot but regard it as Avholly inappropriate
to the Reading Room of any Library that is habitually used by
students for consultation and the reading of books, that any
works of pictorial or plastic art should be placed therein.
Beautiful in themselves, they excite — nay, seem to demand —
conversation and criticism. Conversation, save what is abso-
lutely necessary in the obtaining of books, is, of course, wholly
inadmissible. The Committee would suggest that, if a Gallery
of Art is to be added to the Library, the so-called Ladies'
PUBLIC LIBRARY. 35
Eeading Room, but which has never been used for the purpose,
be the place for the reception of statuary and paintings, &c.
The undersigned trust that their criticisms upon the selection of
the place of deposit of the valuable works now possessed by the
city, by the liberality of some of its citizens, will not be deemed
ungracious to the donors, to whom, certainly, the thanks of
every citizen should be heartily given for these beautiful speci-
mens of the Fine Arts.
COMPLAINTS OF UNNECESSARY NOISES IN THE UPPER HALL.
There is, doubtless, some ground for these complaints,
although the evil is much smaller than one, knowing the struc-
ture of the Hall, and the various duties that are performed there,
would anticipate. Those connected with the Hall arise from
various causes. There is a great reverberation from the gal-
leries. The floors are uncarpeted, and, unless great care be
taken, every step resounds with great force. The legs of the
chairs should have leather or india-rubber upon them, to prevent
noise when they are moved. If, by some contrivance, the
present movable steps in each alcove could be wholly given up,
or made to rattle less than they now do, it would be very de-
sirable. To obviate the noise of trampling feet, it may be a
question whether a strip of india-rubber, or kamptulikon, the
material now used in the British Museum, might not be adopted
by the Trustees, so far, at least, that a narrow strip should
cover the pathway through the alcoves. Until this or some-
thing similar be used, it might be well to have a rule that all
attendants should use slippers, with felt soles, whilst in the
Library.
All unnecessary conversation should be interdicted. One of the
undersigned was in the hall for nearly an hour, and all the
while a gentle " tete-a-ieto'' was being carried on by a young
couple, who had found the luxurious chairs a pleasant spot in
which to pass an agreeable hour. Small children, except in
company with parents, should be totally excluded, and, in
general, every noise that can be avoided should be prevented.
36 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 96.
IV. ADMINISTEATION.
Importance of the recent vote of the Cily Government^ whereby the
election of Superintendent and Librarian was given to the
Trustees.
A very important change-has been made this year by a re-
cent vote of the City Government. The choice of Superin-
tendent and Librarian, instead of the mere nomination of tlicse
officers for election or otherwise by the city authorities, was
given to the Board of Trustees. This, in the opinion of the
Committee, was a wise measure. The office of Superintendent
of a hirge, and constantly increasing, public Library is one of
the highest and most honorable in the community. It is on a
par with that of the Presidency of a University. As such, it
should be removed far above even the mere breath of political
partisanship. But, if any one will examine the list of qualifica-
tions required of the Superintendent of the City Library by the
rules of the Trustees, he will perceive that more is required of
a superintendent than can be found in most men. He must be
a man extremely learned in books ; a proficient in the modern
languages ; a competent and skilful business agent, and one of
infinite tact, to enable him to meet, with equanimity, the
various annoyances incident to the position. In addition to
these natural and acquired qualifications, it would be unfortu-
nate if he should not have studied in the various large libraries
of Europe, in order that he might avoid their dangers, or seek
to engraft their good qualities upon the institution committed
chiefly to his care. It is obvious that such a man would not
often be found in or near the arena of mere politics. Nor,
having chosen his profession of librarian, M^ould he ever for a
long time submit to the annual uncertainties of political strife in
the matter of his election. The city authorities, in the opinion
of your Committee, have elevated the office to its proper rank
by their recent action, and by resigning to the Trustees those
elections which they had previously retained in their own hands.
PUBLIC LIBRAEY. 37
NECESSITY FOR THOROUGH SYSTEM AND CLASSIFICATION OF
THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL EMPLOYED IN
THE INSTITUTION.
As the Superintendent is the highest officer in the Library
under the Trustees, so there should be, as in the military ser-
vice or in large mercantile establishments, regular gradations
of under-officers, and specific duties devolving on each station,
the performance of which duties should be rigorously required
of the incumbent in each office. All the work necessarily car-
ried on in the institution should be thoroughly systematized.
The Committee are unable to say how far such systematic
action has been introduced ; but they have been led to believe
that they should not do any injury to the institution by submit-
ting that, at times, there has not seemed to them such entire
care in this respect as could be wished, and they would, there-
fore, bring this whole subject up for the candid consideration of
the Trustees.
THE CLOSING OF THE LIBRARY IN AUGUST.
Some complaint has been made by individuals, and recently
in one of the public prints, that the Reading Rooms were
closed during the month of August. The length of time for
closing the Library, also, it is believed, has been gradually in-
creasing since the first opening of the institution. This,
doubtless, is owing — in part, at least — to increased necessi-
ties for painting, repairs, and cleaning. The Committee would
suggest the propriety of closing the Library only the shortest
time possible for thorough examination, cleaning, and repairs,
and they see no reason why the Lower Reading Room may not
remain open all the time, though other parts of the Library
shall, of necessity, be closed.
38 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 96.
OPENING OF THE READING ROOM ON SUNDAY.
The question of opening the Reading Room on Sunday
evenings was touched upon by the Committee ; but, as a unani-
mous report could not be procured, owing to radical differences
of opinion on the part of members, the subject was laid aside.
In conclusion, the undersigned would remark that, while
they have thus drawn attention to some apparent defects and
evils which have become noticeable in the working of the in-
stitution, they have done so for the sole purpose of aiding the
proper authorities in applying suitable remedies, although by so
doing they should increase the expense of the establishment, and
for a time, perhaps, give occasion for inconsiderate complaints ;
and they would not fail to add that they have experienced the
highest gratification at the thought of the extraordinary success
that has really attended the Library hitherto, which success is
due to the care of the Trustees, and to the excellent labors of
its various employes.
HENRY I. BOWDITCH,
THOMAS M. BREWER,
GEO. F. HASKINS,
HENRY H. KIMBALL,
J. P. PUTMAN,
J. BAXTER UPHAM,
Examining Committes.
Public Library, November 10, 1865.
[B]
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
To THE Trustees of the Public Library of the City or
Boston : —
Gentlemen : In obedience to a requirement of the By-Laws,
I take leave to present the following as the Report of the Super-
intendent for the year ending on the first of September, 1865.
INCREASE OF THE LIBRARY.
During the year, there have been added to the Library 6,082
books, 1,516 pamphlets, about 3,000 newspapers, and 467
other articles, consisting of maps, charts, broadsides, prints,
and one piece of statuary.
Of these, 804 books, 1,026 pamphlets, and most of the other
objects enumerated above, were donations from 328 individuals
and societies. A list of the donors is appended to this Report,
and marked BB.
Among the donations, I may be permitted to allude especially
to the following : —
Benjamin B. WifFen, a cultivated Quaker of Bedfordshire,
England, has presented 26 volumes of the works of the Spanish
reformers, reprinted a few years since in elegant style, at private
expense, and now become extremely rare. The copies pre-
sented are on large paper. They form a very curious and
valuable collection.
To John Lovell, Esq., a bookseller of Montreal, we are in-
4Q CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 96.
debtcd for a collection of his own publications, and of other
works relative to the history of Canada.
The Honorable William McDougall, Provincial Secretary of
Canada, has obligingly sent to us upwards of a hundred volumes
of the publications of the Canadian Government, Avhicli we had
previously found it difficult to procure, and which are of much
importance for the Library.
Our thanks are especially due to Henry J. ]Morgan, Esq., of
Quebec, for procuring for us the above, and other valuable
works relative to Canada.
Gardner Brewer, Esq., of this city, has given to the Library
a beautiful group in marble, representing the Holy Family,
made some years ago, to his order, by Julius Troschel, a dis-
tinguished sculptor of Berlin, residing in Rome.
Among the donations of the past year, are the original pa-
roles signed by Generals Burgoyne and Riedesel, and the officers
under their command, subsequent to the surrender at Saratoga,
in 1777. J. Wingate Thornton, Esq., being the owner of these
valuable papers, gave them to the Boston Sanitary Fair, on
condition that if one thousand dollars were subscribed for them,
the money should be given to the Fair, and the paroles pre-
sented to the Public Library. The requisite sum was subscribed,
and these interesting relics of the Revolution were thus secured
for the Library. They have been neatly framed, and are sus-
pended in the Bates Hall.
I w^ould not omit to mention here that the proprietors of
newspapers in the city have liberally allowed us to select from
their exchanges a large number of newspapers containing notices
of Mr. Everett, and of President Lincoln. The number of
these is not less than 2,500.
Those relating to President Lincoln, and to events connected
with his assassination, coming from all parts of this country,
with many from England, will present to those who may come
after us a lively picture of the feelings and sentiments which
pervaded all minds as the news of this dreadful event reached
them.
PUBLIC LIBRARY. 41
The number of books purchased during the year was 5,178,
of pamphlets 490, We have been mindful to gather, as far as
we could, the publications, both home and foreign, relative to
the momentous events of the Kebellion. This fact will account
for the unusually large number of pamphlets which have been
bought.
EXTENT OF THE COLLECTIONS.
The Library contained on the 1st of August, 1865 —
In the Bates Hall, . . . 98,156 volumes
In the Lower Hall, . . . 24,860 "
Total, .... 123,016 "
In this enumeration are included only bound volumes, but it
is proper* to state that all the pamphlets which have been
separately bound and placed upon the shelves are counted as
books. The number of them at present is about 3,500. But
several hundred volumes of pamphlets in the Library contain
each from ten to twenty distinct works, bound together as one.
The work of binding valuable pamphlets separately, and incor-
porating them among the more permanent treasures of the
Library, is continued.
The number of volumes assigned above to the Bates Hall is
believed to represent precisely those which now belong upon the
shelves. The books in the Lower Hall have not been actually
counted since|1861. Books have from year to year been lost,
and others have been worn out in the service. Many, but not
all of these, have been replaced. It is probable, therefore, that
if a careful enumeration were now made of the books actually
upon the shelves, the numbers above given would be found
somewhat too large.
The above enumeration of books in the Bates Hall also in-
cludes 4,984 duplicates and odd volumes, which it is not thought
desirable to retain in the Library. The City Government hav-
ing granted to the Trustees authority to sell or exchange these
books so as to procure other books for 'the Library, the actual
42 CITY DOCUMENT. -No. 9G.
extent of the collection may not be materially diminished when
they shall have been thus disposed of.
During the year, 527 duplicates have been exchanged or sold,
and 395 have been added to the list, mostly by donations, so
that the total is somevv'hat less than last year. Overtures have
also been made for further advantageous exchanges and sales.
It is hoped that the number may, at least, be kept from in-
creasing till opportunity occurs for a sale of all which are of
value.
The number of pamphlets belonging to the Library, after
deducting those separately bound, is, according to the enumer-
ation continued from year to year, 32,558. I have before
stated, and repeat here, in order to prevent future disappoint-
ment, that a large portion of these are not of much' value, —
many of them of none' at all, — comprising as (hey do odd
.numbers of periodicals, numerous copies of publications already
upon the shelves, old catalogues of books, etc. All that are of
consequence are well arranged, but have not been actually
counted.
USE OF THE LIBRAEY.
Dui'ing the last year, 5,324 persons have signed the promise
to obey the rules, and have received cards to take out books.
The whole number of signers is at present 40,563.
The number of lendings of books for home use
In the Bates Hall, was . . . 10,371
In the Lower Hall, . . . 184,256
Total, 194,627
The number used in the Bates Hall was 13_,090. This state-
ment does not cover the use of the English Patent specifications,
which have been consulted by 182 persons on an average of
IJ hours to each person ; nor does it represent tlie use of the
Reading Koom for periodicals, nor many protracted investiga-
tions, for which special permission has been granted.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
43
It will be seen, by a comparison of this Report with that of
last year, that the circulation has increased nearly six per cent,
in the whole Library. The increase in the Bates Hall is about
twenty-six per cent. This fact indicates, I think, an improve-
ment in the character of the circulation, — that it is tending
strongly to the more substantial and useful classes of books.
The average daily circulation was 707.73. The Library was
open to the public 275 days. The largest number of books
given out in one day was 1,464, on the 19th of November,
1864.
The average number of visitors in the Reading Room was
305, in the Bates Hall 274. The whole number of visitors in
the Bates Hall was 62,316. The whole number of readers in
the Reading Room for periodicals was 83,364, of which 15,895
were females.
I give below a general classification of the books lent from
the Bates Hall and used therein. A comparison of the table,
with that presented in the last Report, shows an increase in the
use of books in the departments of American history, the Fine
arts and the Useful arts, and the Mathematical and physical
sciences : —
CLASSIFICATION.
Percentage
Fine Arts and Useful Arts .
16J
English History and Literature .
13
American History and Literature
10
Theology, Ethics, and Education
. 8i
Mathematical and Physical Sciences . .
n
French History and Literature
6
Periodicals .....
6
Medicine
4f
Natural History ....
. 41
Bibliography
3
General History and Literature .
3
Greek and Latin Classics .
3
44 CITY DOCUMENT. —No 96.
CLASSIFICATION. Percentage.
German History and Literature . . 2i
Oriental History and Literature . . 2i
Transactions of Learned Societies . . 2 J
Italian History and Literature ... 2
Jurisprudence, Government, Political Economy, 2
Miscellaneous ...... f
LOSSES AND INJURIES.
In the Bates Hull, nineteen books were missing from their
places at the annual examination. It is believed that
most of them will be found. Of the fifteen reported
missing last year, eight have been accounted for. Nineteen
books charged to borrowers previous to the present year have
not been returned, although several notices have been sent to
each delinquent. Six delinquents have promised to return, or
replace, the books charged to them. Thirteen, after diligent
search, have not been found. In several instances, it is certain
that no such person had ever resided in the houses designated
upon their cards. A few cases of mutilation of books in the
Bates Hall have been discovered ; but nearly all the books
have been carefully used, and the whole collection may be said
to be in excellent condition.
The number of books in the Lower Hall not accounted for
at the annual examination was 529. This loss is larger than
for any previous year, and it bears a greater proportion to the
circulation. It is still, however, less than one third of one per
cent, of the circulation.
The number purchased to replace volumes condemned, during
this year and the year preceding, as unfit for longer use, is 586.
Adding the losses to the injuries, the proportion to the whole
circulation is only about one half of one per cent. That is,
about one book out of every two hundred lent is lost or worn
out, including those which may be said to be honestly worn out
in the service. The principal loss and injury fall upon two
PUBLIC LIBKARY. 45
classes of books — namely, novels and books for the young.
If it were proper to separate these books from the rest of the
Library, the work of the establishment might be conducted'
much more cheaply and promptly, and, so far as the order of
the whole establishment is concerned, more satisfactorily. But
it may well be doubted whether it is wise and proper to give
the prominence, which such a course would give, to this class of
publications.
The injuries to books by marking and mutilation have (I
mention it with much regret) noticeably increased. These
damages, it should be remembered, are cumulative, so that,
although the number reported each year may not seem very
considerable, the aggregate, in a series of years, becomes a
striking feature, and one by no means pleasing.
The losses and injuries in the Reading Room have led to the
adoption of important, but indispensable changes in the con-
ditions for the use of the periodicals.
Such abuses can, doubtless, be prevented ; but not, it has
been feared, without, in some degree, restricting the benefits of
the Library. It is a difficult and ungrateful duty to weigh the
suppression of abuses against the curtailment of such privileges
as this Library has furnished.
On the one hand, it is nearly certain that these wrongs are
the work of comparatively few persons, and are generally the
result of ignorance and heedlessness, rather than of wanton
malice, and that they are not, in a pecuniary sense, of very
great importance ; but, on the other hand, they are disc > editable ,
and, by the toleration of them, the Library fails, so far, in one
of its duties, — that of educating the public in their respect for
books. The increase of the evil points surely to a day when a
due regard for property iield in trust, for future as well as for
present use, may demand a greater degree of stringency than
has heretofore been thought imperative.
The wise policy of the Trustees has been to make the Library
FREE, and to adopt restrictions only as experience might show
46 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 9G.
tliem to be necessary. It is for them to jiulgc whether the time
has or has not come to establish some stricter regulations than
have heretofore been made, even should it be at the probable
expense of a temporary decrease of the circulation, and of some
consequent dissatisfaction.
I do not, however, apprehend that any measures which may
be adopted to correct these abuses will, to any considerable ex-
tent, or for any great length of time, produce results to be
dejn-ecated.
The first expedient for repressing abuses seems to me to be
such a change in the method of charging the books as shall
make the borrower more certainly and unmistakably responsible
for the loan. With this there should also be joined facilities,
such as cannot be furnished without an Increase of the force in
the Lower Hall, for following up delinquents more promptly,
and for examining carefully the condition of every book re-
turned, before It Is again given out.
The fact that some persons have either registered false
names, or given a false designation of residence, suggests the
possible necessity of more scrutiny of the claims of persons ap-
plying for cards. It may become needful to require the in-
dorsement of some w^ell-known citizen for those persons whose
names are not in the directory, or an Immediate Investigation of
the truth of the statements made by them. Implying a delay,
possibly, of a day before issuing books on such new cards, which
will, however, be few in number.
I make these suggestions now, — not. Indeed, for the first
time, — but with a more full conviction than I have heretofore
felt, that they are becoming more and more urgent, and In the
belief that the intelligent portion of the community are already
prepared for action upon them.
THE CATALOGUES.
A Supplement, the eighth in number, to the Index of the
Lovver Hall, has been printed, containing the additions, num-
bering 706 volumes, for the year.
PUBLIC LIBRARY. 47
All the accessions to the Library have been catalogued upon
cards, and no arrears have been allowed to accumulate in any
department of the work upon the accessions of the year.
The printing of the Supplement to the Index of the Bates
Hall has proceeded very slowly, for reasons unavoidable on our
part. It will make a book of more than six hundred pages, in-
stead of four hundred, as at first estimated, in consequence of
the numerous additions which have been made. We are now
printing the letter L ; and, if the rate of progress quite lately
reached can be sustained, as we hope it can be, the whole will
be completed by next May.
ADMINISTRATION.
The experience of thirteen years has served, I think, to vin-
dicate the wisdom and practicability of the early views of the
Trustees, with respect to the principles for administering the
Library. Changes have, here and there, proved necessary, and
have been made without affecting the general plan of the Insti-
tution. As the establishment becomes more and more developed,
modifications in details are indicated as important. Suggestions
for improvement have ever received, and doubtless will always
receive, the patient attention of the Trustees.
This is emphatically a Public Library. Its doors are more
widely, constantly, invitingly opened, than those of any other
of like magnitude with which I am acquainted. The very
freedom of access and use brings* with it facilities for abuse,
and makes the Watchful care of all intrusted with its manage-
ment peculiarly imperative and difficult. A library belonging
to an association is far more easily controlled. The very
fact of men uniting to support a Library limits the prin-
cipal use to the proprietors, who are, of course, persons
capable of appreciating such advantages, and each proprietor
can enjoy privileges, — very desirable, it must be said, in them-
selves, but obviously impossible where the whole population of
a city have equal rights. If but one person had the right to use
48 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 9G.
the Library, he might range in it at will, and Avho can doubt
that his profiting thereby might be vastly greater than it can be
if he is restricted to the borrowing of one book at a time, and is
debarred from free access to the alcoves. But it is obvious that
such privileges cannot be accorded to many persons without
greatly impairing the usefulness of a public Library. The
books would inevitably be displaced and lost, and the Library
would soon fall into hopeless confusion.
It doubtless would be more satisfactory to a few to con-
fine even the sight of the Library, except on stated and
infrequent occasions, to serious students who wish to pur-
sue their researches in silence, and free from the interrup-
tions of visitors. For such persons a separate room might
be provided, if it were possible, in the present building.
But the Library is for the public, and one source of grat-
ification which it furnishes to the people is to view, them-
selves, and show to their friends from other places, its handsome
halls and large treasures. This they do invariably without in-
tentional disturbance or rudeness. It is, indeed, more and more
felt to be unfortunate that almost all the work of the Library
must be performed in the same hall frequented by readers and
the public. Although every measure practicable is taken to
secure quiet, the room has a marble floor, and is surrounded by
echoing corridors, and perfect stillness is unattainable. It is well,
perhaps, to record these suggestions, that in any future enlarge-
ments of the building they may receive attention.
I prepared for the tenth annual Report of the Trustees three
tables of statistics relative to the Increase, use, and losses of the
Library. In accordance with requests repeatedly made, I have
continued these statements to the present time, and append them
to this Report, marked AA.
I also append the usual financial statement, marked CC.
Respectfully submitted.
CHARLES C. JEWETT, Superintendent.
Public Library, 24 October, 1865.
PUBLIC LIBEAEY
49
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Note.— To account for some discrepancies noticeable in the above table, compiled from
the Annual Keports, it should be stated that, prior to the Report of 1801, the annual state-
ment of the whole number of volumes was obtained by adding- the accessions of the year
to the previous aggregates ; and although the numbers in the Bates Hall are now obtained
by actually counting the books upon the shelf-lists, there still remain several sources of
unavoidable discrepancies, such as the following: Works reported at first as containing
a certain number of volumes, afterwards for good reasons bound in a difTerent number;
works reported as duplicates subsequently exchanged for works in a different number of
volumes; pamphlets bound separately and counted as books; also volumes lost or worn
out, but for some reason not replaced, which disappear in the aggregates, but remain as
originally reported among the accessions.
50
CITY DOCUMENT.— No. DO.
TABLE II.
Signatures.
ClUCULATION.
Year.
VVh'le No.
Lent.
Daily
Av'ge.
Largest
No. in
one day
Date.
Lent in
Bates
UaU.
Used in
Hates
11 aU.
1854....
6,590^
35,389
250
535
Sep. 16
1855....
3,905
3
81,281
284
606
Feb. 10
1856....
2,361
- 1 17,066
82,661
291
647
Feb. 23
1857....
2,236
m
89,423
310
730
Jan. 24
1858....
1,974.
75,570
383
693
Feb. 27
1859....
13,329 ^
149,468
588.5
1,335
Mar. 5
I860....
4,809
151,020
508.5
1,052
Feb. 4
1861....
4,522
160,877
587.1
1,303
Feb. 23
1862....
4,326
^ 'I- 40,563
180,302
626
1,517
Mar. 1
7,400
10,263
1863....
3,495
3
138,027
643 56
1,534
Feb. 7
5,222
7,124
1864....
4,758
184,035
664.34
1,424
Feb. 27
7,468
11,057
1865....
5,324^
194,627
707.73
1,464
Nov. 19
10,371
13,090
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
51
TABLE III.
Books
Missing.
Books
Regained.
Books
Worn out.
Books
Replaced.
Amount
of Fines.
1854...
1854-55
*1855-56
1856-57
1857-58
1858-59
1859-GO
18G0-61
1861-62
1862-63
1863-64
1864-65
20
98
149
217
130
262
340
294
234
447
548
42
119
107
156
39
>0 KB
134
116
261
306
106
57
206
127
586
87 30
200 27
262 13
130 85
100 21
143 02
101 27
81 00
133 63
87 90
126 37
133 62
[BB]
LIST or DONORS.
Bates, Joshua, London,
Bigclow, Hon. John P.,
Franklin Chib, .
Lawrence, Hon. Abbott,
Phillips, Hon. Jonathan,
Townsend, Mary P.,
50,000
1,000*
1,000
10,000
30,000
4,000
The interest of these donations, with the exception of that of
the Townsend Fund (which is invested in a mortgage at six
per cent), has been paid in gold, at the rate of five per cent,
per annum.
Vols. Pamphs.
Abbot, G. J., Washington, 1
Advertiser, Boston Daily, Proprietors of the,
100 Papers. 1
Albany Young Men's Association, 1
Alberi, E., Florence, 5
Allen, Joseph H., 1
American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Boston, 1
American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, 4
American Baptist Missionary Union, 2 3
American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, 2
American Tract Society, Boston, 5
American Union (Newspaper), Proprietors of the,
2 Papers.
American Unitarian Association, 4
Amory, T. C, Jr., 1
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
53
Vols, raiiiphs.
1 Broadside, 2 Cliculars,
1 Chart.
Andrew, J. A., Governor of Massachusetts,
Andrews, ,
Anonymous, 12 BLinhs,
14 Papers,
Appleton, John, M. D.,
Arnold, Howard P.,
Atwood, Charles,
Avery, Edward,
Babbage, Charles, England,
Balfour, David M.,
Barnard, James M.,
Bemis, George,
Bogart, W. L. A., Albany,
Boston, City of,
Boston Athena3um,
Boston City Hospital,
Boston Gas Light Company,
Boston Society for Medical Improvement,
Bostoniensis,
Boutwell, George S., Hon.,
Bowditch, H. I., M. D., 2 Circulars.
Bradlee, Caleb D., Rev.,
Brewer, Gardner, " The Holy Family,"- a group in
marble, by Troschel.
Brighton Library,
Brooklyn Mercantile Library,
Brooks, Charles, Rev.,
Brooks, James I., Hon.,
Brown, S. G., Professor, Dartmouth College,
Bryant, ,
Buffalo Young Men's Association,
Bullock, A. H., Hon.,
Bunker Hill Aurora, Proprietors of the, 1 Paper
Burnham, T. O. H. P.,
Burroughs, Henry, Jr., Rev.,
Butler, J. S., M. D., Hartford,
Boynton, E. M.,
Butler Hospital for the Insane, Providence,
California Academy of Natural Sciences, San Fran-
cisco,
Cartwright, R. J., Kingston, Canada,
Chambers, George E.,
14
1
4
1
1
2
2
1
17
1
8
2
73
1
1
118
54
CITY DOCUMENT.- No. DO.
Vols. Pamphs.
1 Paper.
2 Papers.
1 Paper.
pp. Music.
2 jip. Manuscript,
Charlestown Advertiser, Proprietors of the, 1 Paper
Charlestown, City of,
Charlestown Public Library,
Child, George H.,
Christern, F. W., New York,
Christian Era, Proprietors of the,
Christian Register, Proprietors of the,
Christian Witness, Proprietors of the,
Clapp, C. C, &Co.,
Clarke, E. H., M. D.,
Clarke, J. F., D. D.,
Clarke, RufusW., Rev.,
Clarke, W. A.,
Cogswell, J. G., LL. D.,
Colcord, S. M.,
Commercial Bulletin, Proprietors of the,
Commonwealth, Proprietors of the,
Congregationalist, Proprietors of the,
Coolidge, J. I. T., Rev.,
Copeland, Elisha,
Corson, A. J.,
Courier, Boston, Proprietors of the,
Cultivator, Boston, Proprietors of the,
Curtis, Cynthia,
Cutter, C. A., Cambridge,
Daly, Charles P., Hon., New York,
Dana, R. H., Jr.,
Dana Library, Cambridge,
Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
Dawson, Henry B., Morrisania, New York,
De Costa, B. F., Rev.,
Dennet, Ch. F., London,
Detroit Young Men's Society,
De Vries, Ibarra, & Co.,
Dexter, H. M., D.D.,
Ditson, Oliver,
Doane, Heman S.,
Dubuque, Iowa, Mayor of, by E. W. Sanborn
Dudley, Dean,
Dutton, E. P., & Co.,
Eastburn, Right Rev. Bishop,
Eastern Railroad Company,
1 Paper.
1 Paper.
1 Paper.
30 Papers
2 P
npers
10 pp. Music,
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
55
Vols. P
amphs
Edinburgh Royal Observatory,
1
Edwards, Henry,
2
Ehot, Mrs. S. A., Cambridge,
4
Eliot, S.,
1
Ellis, G. E.,D.D.,
14
Emerson, G. B., LL.D.,
1
7
Essex Institute, Salem,
1
5
Everett, E., Hon.,
9 Papers.
1
5
Everett, W.,
1
Fall River Public Library,
1
Faribault, G. B., Quebec,
1
Farwell, J. E., & Co.,
26
Fay, Theodore S., Hon.,
1
Felt, LydiaB.,
2
Ferguson, Robert, England,
through
Professor
Longfellow,
1
Ferland, J. B. A., Quebec,
5
Ferland, T. B., Quebec,
€
Field, Chester, Rev.,
1
Flag of Our Union, Proprietors
of the.
1 Paper.
Flanders, H.,
1
2
Foley, W. J.,
12
51
Forbes, R. B.,
1
Ford, W. E.,
1
Francis, George, Cambridge,
1
Frothingham, Edward,
1
Frothingham, E. L.,
1
Fuller, Richard F.,
1
Gannett, E. S., D..D.,
4
Gleason's Pictorial, -Proprietors
of the.
1 Paper.
Goldsmith, Seth,
25
Gould, A. A.,M. D.,
1
12
Gray, Wm.,
2
2
Great Britain, Commissioner of Patents,
73
Great Britain, Royal Observatory, Greenwich,
1
Green, Samuel A., M. D.,
19
Greenough, W. W.,
205 Papers.
Groton, Lawrence Academy,
2
Guild, Reuben A., Providence,
1
Hale, E. E., Rev.,
2
Hall, Chas. B.,
6
Hall, W. W.,M. D., New Y(
)rk,
1
5
56
CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 96.
Vols. Piiniplis.
7P;
ipei"!
6 Maps.
Ilalliwcll, II. W.,
Hartford Young iSIen's Institute,
Harvard College, Cambridge,
Harvard College, Cambridge, Observatory,
Harvard College, Museum of Comp. Zoology
Haskins, D. G., Rev.,
Haskins, G. F., Rev.,
Hastings, H. L.,
Heaton, George, M. D.,
Hedge, F. H., D. D.,
Heinzen, Carl, Roxbury,
Herald, Boston, Proprietors of the,
Herschel, J. F. W., England,
Higginson, Major H. L.
Hilgard, J. E., U. S. Coast Survey,
Hill, Wm. H.,
Hodgdon, Adjutant-General, Maine,
Holden,* Frederick A., Washington,
Hooper, R. W., M. D.,
Horsford, E. N.
.Horton, John M., Chicago,
Hosmer, George W., Rev.,
Houghton, H."0.,
Hubbard, C. T.,
Hudson, C. F.,
Humphreys, E. R., LL. D.,
Huntington, F. D., D.D.,
Innes, Charles A.,
Investigator, Boston, Proprietors of the, 1 Paper
Iowa, Adjutant-General Baker, ,
Jackson, II. T., Professor, Union College,
Jay, John, New York,
Jenks, Wm., D. D.,
Jillson, W. E., Professor,
Johnson, J. C,
Journal, Boston, Proprietors of the, 113
Kalee Ki'ishna Bahadur, Rnjah, Calcutta,
Kemp, N. P.,
Kirk, E. N., D. D., 11 Slips, 3
Kirkbride, Thomas, M. D.,
Ladreyt, E. N.,
Langworthy, Isaac P., Rev., 3 Papers.
apers
ipen
PLBLIC LIBRARY.
57
Leader, Newspaper, Boston, Proprietors of the,
11 Papers.
Lincoln, F. "W., Jr., His Honor, 1 Photograph.
Little, Brown & Co.,
Livermore, George, Cambridge,
London. British Museum,
London. Listitution for Civil Engineers,
London. Royal Astronomical Society,
London. Royal Geographical Society,
London. Royal Society,
Loring, C. G., Hon.,
Loring, J. S.,
Lothrop, S. K., D. D.,
Lovell, John, Montreal,
Lowell, City,
Macaulay, George H., Canada,
McDougall, William, Hon. , Prov. Secretary, Quebec,
Macedonian, Proprietors of the, 1 Paper.
McGee, T. Darcy, Hon., Montreal,
Marble, Manton, New York World,
Massachusetts Bible Society,
Massachusetts Historical Society,
Massachusetts Home Missionary Society,
Massachusetts Horticultural Society,
Massachusetts Ploughman, Boston, Proprietors of
the, 1 Paper.
Massachusetts Sabbath School Society,
May, Abby W.,' 1 Portfolio.
Michigan University, Ann Arbor,
Miner, A. A., D. b.,
Moore, C. W.,
Morgan, Henry J., Montreal,
Mumford, Samuel R., Detroit,
Napoleon HI, Emperor of the French,
Nation, Proprietors of the, 1 Paper.
National Sailors' Fair,
New Bedford Public Library,
New England Farmer, Proprietors of the, 1 Paper.
New England Freedman's Aid Society,
New England Historic Genealogical Society,
New England Loyal Publication Society, 236 Cir-
culars and Broadsides,
1
17
1
1
138
plis.
1
37
3
4
2
1
4
5
10
1
10
2
1
1
1
5
1
13
53
CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 96.
52 Papers.
Photographs.
through Converse,
Newburyport Public Library,
New England Women's Auxiliary Association of
the U.S. Sanitary Commission,
New Nation, Proprietors of the, 9 Papers.
New York, xidjutant-General of the State,
New York Chamber of Commerce,
New York Homoeopathic Medical Society,
New York ]Mercantile Library,
Nichols, W., Jr., Major,
Nourse & Rand,
Onderdonk, H., Jr., Jamaica, Long Island,
Orr, John W.,
Otis, Mary,
Palfrey, J. G., Hon., LL. D.
Parker, H. T., London,
Parker, L. H.,
Patterson, Robert, General,
Blagden, & Co.,
Peabody, A. P., D. D.,
Peabody Institute, South Dan vers,
Pettingell, S., & Co., 98 Articles from Newspapers.
Philadelphia. American Philosophical Society,
Philadelphia Mercantile Library,
Pilot, Boston, Proprietors of the 2 Papers.
Poole, W. F., _
Post, Boston Daily, Proprietors of the, 6 Papers.
Providence AthenaJum,
Punchard, George,
Quincy, Eliza S.,
Rand & Avery,
Randall, J. W., M. D.,
Recorder, Boston, Proprietors of the, 3 Papers.
Rice, A. H., Hon.,
Richardson, J. B.,
R. H. D.,
Rhees, William J., Washington,
Rhode Island, Grand Lodge, Providence,
Robbins, Chandler, D. D.,
Rogers, William,
Romney, Martha P., Mrs.
Ruschenberger, W. S. W., Philadelphia, I
Russell, G. D,, & Co., 5 pp. Music. j
Vols. Pamphs.
1
12
1
2
9
29
1
1
1
13
12
4
2
2
20
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
59
Eussell, T. R., Kingston,
Sabino, L.,
San Francisco Mercantile Library Association,
Saturday Evening Express, Boston, Proprietors of
the, 18 Papei's.
Saturday Evening Gazette, Proprietors of the,
15 Newspaper Articles.
Shaw, Benjamin S., M. D.,
Simonds,J. H., & Coleman, Moses J., Franklin, Pa.
Smith, C. C,
Smith, Samuel, City Clerk, "Worcester,
Smith, W. Dexter, 12 pp. Music.
Smithsonian Institution, Washington,
Spencer, W. V.,
Stoddart, J. L., One hundred dollars, for the pur-
chase of books for the Lower Library,
Sumner, C, Hon.,
Tache, J. C, Canada,
Tarbox, Licrease N.,
Thorndike, J. P.,
Thornton, J. Wingate, The original paroles ot
Generals BurgoyneandRiedesel, and their respec-
tive officers, after the surrender at Saratoga in
1777, presented by Mr. Thornton to the Boston
Sanitary Fair, on condition of sale for not less
than $1,000, and presentation by the purchasers
to the Public Library. The money was subscribed
and given to the Fair, and the documents were
presented to the Library by William Endicott,
Esq., on behalf of the subscribers.
Ticknor, George,
Ticknor & Fields,
Tolman, Henry, & Co., 12 pp. Music, 4 Papers.
Townsend, S. D., M. D.,
Transcript, Boston, Proprietors of the, 40 Papers.
Treadwell, Daniel, Professor,
Trimble, James, Col.,
Troy, Rensselaer Institute,
United States. Bureau of Navigatipn, Charles H.
Davis, Chief of Bureau,
United States. Department of the Interior,
United States. Department of the Navy, Prints.
Vols. Pampha
28
1
12
2
29
60
CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 9G.
United States. Depfirtment of State,
United States. Library of Congress,
United States. Patent Office, D. P. Plolloway, Cr.,
Univcrsalist, Newspaper, Boston, Proprietors of
the, . 8 Papers.
Venice, Istituto Veneto,
Vienna, K. K. Geol. Reichsanstalt,
Voice, Boston, Daily, Proprietors of the, 7 Papers.
Ward, G. A., Family of, by Jas. C. Ward, North-
ampton,
Warner, Herman J.,
Warren & Co., 86 Papers.
Warren, J. M., M. D.,
Warren, Josiah, Cliftondale,
Watchman and Reflector, Proprietors of the,
2 Papers.
Wells, E. M. P.,D.D.,
Wheildon, W. W., Charlestown,
Whitcomb, C. C,
Whitney, Alfred,
Whitney, D., Brooklyn, N. Y.,
Whitney, F. A., Rev., Brighton,
Whitweil, B., Mrs.,
Wide World, Proprietors of the, 1 Paper.
WifFen, B. B., England,
Wiggin, J. K.,
Wilcocks, A., M. D.,
Wilder, A. C, Hon.,
Willis, Nathaniel, 26 Papers.
Wilmington Institute,
Wilson, Henry, Hon.,
Wilson, John, & Son,
Windship, J. P. C, Brighton,
Winthrop, R. C, Hon.,
Wood, A. M., Dr.,
Wood, Horatio, Rev., Lowell,
Woodman, C. C,
Worcester, S. M., D.D.,
Worcester Free Library,
Worthington & Flanders, Proprietors of the Boston
Daily Traveller, 101 Papers.
Wright & Potter,
Ziou's Herald, Proprietors of the, 2 Papers.
Is. Pamphs
2
1
3
3
11
1
3
1
14
1
1
1
1
24
1
1
PUBLIC LIBRATIY.
61
[CC]
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
.
EXPENDITURES.
FROM SEPT. 1, 1864, TO APRIL 30, 18C5,
Binding, ......
$2,370 82
Books,
7,111 93
Catalogue,
»
1,853 42
Expense,
945 50
Fuel, .
2,044 98
Furniture,
184 48
Gas, .
1,095 96
Periodicals,
1,295 79
Printing,
554 34
Salaries,
8,811 67
Stationery, .
398 75
Transportation,
337 99
$ 27,005 63
FROM MAY
Binding,
Books,
Catalogue,
Expense,
Fuel, .
Furniture,
Gas,
Periodicals
Printing,
Salaries,
Stationery,
Transportation
1, TO SEPT. 30, 1865,
$1,061
13
4,622
50
1,674
78
792
78
1,050
00
106
75
448
13
713
86
404
43
6,913
08
125
15
249
86
$ 18,162 45
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 9999 06314 626 8
^.P.L.Bittdefy.
NOV 23 1878
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