DUNEDIN ATHEMUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15668, 22 January 1913, Page 2

DUNEDIN ATHEMUM.

The following are the chief items in the annual report of the Dunedin Athenasum and Mechanics' Institute: —

The receipts for the year from all sources, including Mid bank balanco lrom 1911, amounted to £1641 13s 2d, twid tho expenditure to £1584 IBs 9<l, tho year tlius closing with a credit balance of £06 lte 6d. 'i'no average membership for the year was lii3B, as against 1909 ior the previous year. The library now contains 21,728 works, represented by 25,W6 volumes, During the year 400 volumes were disposed of and struck' off the catalogue. Tho accessions numbered 897 works (in 907 volumes), which included 672 works oi fiction ajad 47- works of reference, Tho total number of books issued from the library during the year was 80,881, ue compared with 88,1t>7 issued duruig 1911. The details of tho issue for tho year just olosed aro a 6 follow:—Sciences, 261; useful arts, 301; fine and recreative arts, 223; social and political science, 281; philosophy and religion, 391; history and geography, 3206; biography and correspondence, 1764; language and literature, 94; poetry and. drama, 334; miscellaneous works (including magazines in book form), 777; fiotion, 73,249. Twenty-five tickets of membership in the institution were awarded, as u6ual, during the year as prizes for general knowledge to pupils attending the Boys' and Girls' High Schools and the primary school of tho city and suburbs.

The committee, whilo pleased to note that there has ljeen an increase in the country membership during the year, would like again to call attention to the fact that special concessions aro granted to groups of country residents who may desire to obtain books from the library; Under the existing arrangements it is possible for country residents to obtain a good supply of literature from a well-equipped library on terms equal to those granted to town members of tho institute. In accordance with the suggestion made at last annual meeting, tho committee, in tho early part of tho year, made some improvement to the accommodation in tho ladies' room. This improvement seems to be appreciated. The committee acknowledges with thanks a valuable presentation by Mr T. W. Whitson of 21 volumes selected by him during a visit to England.