DUNEDIN ATHENÆUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20320, 31 January 1928, Page 7

DUNEDIN ATHENÆUM.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of subscribers to the Dunedin Athenaeum was held last night, and was attended by about 20 members. The chair was occupied by Dr Elder. . . In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet Dr Elder expressed regret at the fact that the chairman, Mr Ewen Cameron, was. through indisposition, unable to preside over the meeting. It was good, however, to know that Mr Cameron had made a good recovery from his recent illness, and that his services would be available as a member of committee during the ensuing year. Two valued members of the Athemeum died during the year, both of whom had rendered great service. He referred to Mr P. Goyen, the late lion. secretary. and Mr R. P. Bastings, late librarian. It was not necessary to elaborate the enthusiasm and zeal devoted by those two gentlemen to the interests of the Athenaeum. The report presented by the committee contained many features, upon which members had reason to congratulate themselves. The number of members had increased substantially. Allowing for withdrawals, the register of subscribers sbow.ed an increase of 202 for the year, while the cash receipts showed an advance of £232. These figures themselves were testimony to the increasing public favour shown the institution. Ihe services of the Athenaeum were valued not only by Dunedin citizens, but by many outside Dunedin. Among the subscribers were several North Island residents ami their number tended to increase. they were probably attracted by the very low rates of subscriptions. For a guinea a year a subscriber received three books at a time, while the postage on his parcel was. approximately, 4d each way. I hey were kept continuously in touch with the Athenaeum, since month by month hsts ot recent additions were posted to them, ine Dunedin public was also keenly aliv* to the advantages afforded by the Atnenmum The book issues for the past year showed the remarkable increase of over 24 000. Members interested themselves chiefly in works cf fiction although it did not seem that an apology was necessary for the fact that in this matter they followed the rest o:; the 'corld. but theie were manv who read constants in tne more serious branches of the library, and who keenly appreciated the fact that aa ranch attention was paid to the acquisi tion of the more informative types of literature. A glance at the list of books issued showed the interesting fact that the sex novel had lost its appeal, and tliat tt? stoi d v. bee Thf C fact by tlmt ?e°aS pidvdlege^y C the 6 ofnimbers. The receipts from this source alone - ceeded £9O during the past y ear - g _ temtivt everything possible "as done by th'e committee to me« $ tj» the lon- waiting list foi such new woiks f. V Bi h r ß ?Ss«est,’’ by EthefS Dell. Ml available copies in town hacl been works of fiction, »t " \ j n the r 1 th Ser.f of Vg 1 \ * in circulation. fee niagazS department showed si|ns of increasing POJ.nlarity. an this to magazines ofsuch MagaC . onte "l P d or ChambeiVl’journal. The committedhopedi that the new magazine covers CTaV ha nX reading" room, th eving and mutilation of magazines weie still nrevalent, and would ..npeal to mem hers To assist in checking these malpractices The committee was determined that‘any delinquent, discovered would be SkA™ :rS y o f^ifioo.ion that the members made so much use isngfcas? «Sff rs a substantial increase in the membership. As showing the desire of the c to increase in every way possible the use of the Athenaeum buildings, he noted that Ten the downstairs rooms were receiving attention A general tidying up " as 1 Soaress; the complete renovation was a matter of finance. For the present, however. the committee thought it duse to concentrate upon the provision of th best services possible in the past reading room. Thus, during the p year a modern book issue desk, bridge tables, a new draughts table and new lounge chairs had- been added U> th. furniture, while two rooms used by tn. staff had been renovated and so made much more comfortable. Such non-iecur ring expenditure upon improvements amounted to £l5O. More attention had been paid to the general maintenance ot the cleanliness of the buildings, with th. result that the expenditure upon cleanin" had been somewhat increased, this matter was of particular importance, since there was a growing tendency among members to regard the Athemeum as a convenient clubroom in which they might pleasantly spend the leisure mid-day hour--111 view of what he had already said, it must be evident that some increase in staff was necessitated during the year. The committee therefore added one junior assistant, to the staff. He was certain that all members agreed that the general prosperity of the institution was due to the unremitting attention and unfailing courtesy of the librarian (Mr Greenwood) and his capable staff. committee was pleased to note that Mr Greenwood 6 broadcasting talks with reference to current literature met with acceptance. and were of undoubted advantage to the Athenanim. He anticipated confidently that, through Mr Greenwoods zeal and general enthusiasm, the splendid increase in membership would be maintained and even surpassed this year.

Mr H. W. Mitchell expressed appreciation of the improvements recently carried out in the buildings, and he went on to pay a tribute to the work of the librarian (Mr Greenwood), through whose efforts many new books had been added to the library. Mr D. H. Rodgers also spoke in appreciation of Mr Greenwood’s work. He stated that it was only within the last few years that any material change for the better had been made. The report was adopted. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, His Excellency Sir Charles Fergusson; vice-pre-sident, Dr J. R. Elder; secretary, Mr W. Alexander: treasurer, Mr J. M. Paterson; committee —Messrs J. L. Salmoud. E. Cameron, J. M. Gallaveay. A. C. Stephens, J. A. Fitzgerald, A. Watt, J. Fleming, Dr G. E. Thompson, and Dr Dickie.

. After a lengthy discussion it was decided that the subscription should remain as at present.

A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the staff, to whose services eulogistic references were made.