REPORT

OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE

FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

THE Directors of the Free Public Library herewith submit to the City Council their first annual

REPORT:

The Free Public Library of the city of Worcester was established by an ordinance of the City Council passed December 23, 1859. Prior to that time the want of such an institution had for a long period been felt by the people of the city, and had repeatedly been made the subject of remark in the inaugural addresses of its chief magistrates. So great, however, would necessarily be the expenditure of its establishment, that no mayor of the city had felt authorized to treat the matter with any other language that of desire and hope.

But in November, 1859, private and associate munificence enabled the City Council to lay the foundations of the institution which has now entered upon the second year of successful operation. At that time, Dr. John Green, esteemed by all for a life-long service in which professional success and personal virtues had been equally characteristics, made known to the authorities of the city his desire to endow here a public library. This purpose

had for many years been cherished by him. In a communication addressed to the mayor, and afterwards by a formal deed of gift, he presented to the city his large and valuable private library, consisting of about seven thousand (7,000) volumes, which had been collected by him at a cost of not far from ten thousand dollars ($10,000), accompanied with such conditions as in the judgment of himself and others would best secure their preservation and use.

About the same time, and in harmonious co-operation with the design of Dr. Green, the Worcester Lyceum and Library Association, a voluntary and vigorous organization well known and appreciated here, made donation to the city of its entire library, containing about four thousand five hundred (4,500) volumes. The liberality and public spirit of this accompanying endowment were duly recognized by the city authorities and expressed in the terms of acceptance.

These two libraries, comprising together about eleven thousand five hundred (11,500) volumes, were duly accepted by the City Council, in behalf of the city, and by the ordinance already referred to were dedicated to the establishment of the Free Public Library of Worcester. Under this ordinance the present Board of Directors was elected in December, 1859, Dr. John Green being by the terms thereof made an honorary life member. In the same month the City Council purchased a lot of land upon Elm street, on which a building for the library might thereafter be erected.

In January, 1860, the mayor, in his inaugural address to the City Council, in terms alike cordial and unequivocal, commended to their care and support the prosecution and development of the enterprise. On the nineteenth (19th)

of March following, the City Council voted an appropriation of four thousand dollars ($4,000) for the support and increase of the library; in which act the directors could not fail to recognize a liberal spirit of appreciation of the great public importance of the institution.

The Board of Directors was formally organized January 6th, 1860, by the choice of A. H. Bullock as President, and Albert Tolman as Secretary. Both libraries were found occupying the third story of the Worcester Bank Block, where they had been kept for some time previous; and although many inconveniences must necessarily attend the opening of these quarters for public resort and use, it has been deemed by the Board, for reasons of economy and the better preservation of the books, expedient not to remove them from this place until they can be transferred to their permanent abode in the building now being finished for them. The rent which has been paid for the use of the premises during the year has been two hundred and five dollars ($205). The necessities of rebinding a portion of the volumes, and of covering them, together with other unavoidable causes, delayed the opening of the library for public use until the middle of April.

At that time, the library, as a free public institution, was opened, under the charge of Mr. Z. Baker as Librarian, at a salary of five hundred dollars ($500) per annum. At a later day, as the exigency required, Miss C. Barnes was selected as assistant, at a salary of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) per annum. Both of these officers have, in the opinion of the Directors, discharged their duties with approved assiduity and fidelity. Standing Committees of the Board were appointed respectively on the Library, on the Building and Library Rooms, and

on Finance and Accounts, who have had charge of these several departments.

The purchases of new books, commenced soon after the appropriation had been made by the City Council, have been under the direction of the Committee on the Library, consisting of Messrs. Isaac Davis, Stephen Salisbury, John Green, W. A. Smith, Henry Chapin and Dwight Foster. The number of books purchased and added to the library has been about two thousand (2,000,) at a cost of eleven hundred and seventy dollars and thirty-six cents ($1,170.36.) In every instance the committee has availed itself of the largest attainable discount from the usual prices. It is not deemed advisable to attempt any considerable further additions to the library until the new building shall be completed, as in the rooms now occupied there is no space unimproved. But upon its transfer to the library building, the necessity will be at once felt of a very considerable increase. Without liberal accessions at that time, the just expectations of the inhabitants cannot fail to be disappointed.

Donations of books have been received during the year as follows:

The volumes contributed by Mr. Hoar are the Encyclopædia Britannica, the whole set of this work being his donation, commenced while the library was the property of the Lyceum Association. Mr. Thayer has also present