Athenæum and Mechanics' Institute.

James Paterson, Librarian; John Barr, Hon. Sec.

This Institution, located in a rather overcrowded building, in the Octagon at Dunedin, succeeded in 1859 an earlier 'Mechanics' Institution," founded in June 1851. The page 35 objects of this earlier institution were to found a reading-room, museum, classes for public instruction, and lectures; but it did not prosper. The present Athenaeum, however, seems to be flourishing both from a financial and literary point of view. In February 1884, at the annual meeting, a balance of £66 was reported, after an expenditure of nearly £600 in books, binding, and newspapers, the total receipts for the year having been £1,591, of which £982 were produced by subscriptions. I should think the library must now contain nearly 20,000 volumes, but as there are a very considerable number of novels in 3 vols, my readers must not imagine that the library is really so powerful as its numbers make it appear.

Subscribers have access to the shelves, and, judging by the number of persons I saw taking out books on an afternoon, they must be great readers; however, the books, which came out from home bound strongly in half-calf, cloth sides, seem to be able to withstand the wear and tear.

After the elements of fiction and periodical literature, which seem most in demand, history and biography make a fair show. The arrangement of books on the presses, and cataloguing, is well done, and makes the borrower's work easy; additional space is here, as also in many other places, sadly wanted. There are two reading-rooms, with a large and excellent assortment of English, Australian, and New Zealand newspapers and magazines upon the tables. There is also a small room entirely devoted to works of reference. Mr. Paterson keeps the various ledgers of borrowings, &c., and the stock books and catalogues up to date, with great carefulness, and they would afford some interesting statistics.

The reading-rooms are open every week day, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m. The library is open for the exchange of books at various intervals during the day. The Athenaeum was incorporated 7th December, 1870.

A classified catalogue was published in 1881 (8vo, pp. 293), page 36 just the book for the borrower from a lending library in which access to the shelves is permitted. This catalogue has also an index of author's names. A supplement to it was published in 1882; it has sold very fairly well amongst members of the Institution.

There have been attempts at various times, and a good deal of talk about establishing a Free Public Library in Dunedin. So far the attempt has been unsuccessful, and as the ratepayers did not instigate the movement, and as at present there is no earthly reason to call upon the Athenaeum to efface itself, it will probably be many years before there is anything of the kind in Dunedin. From the point of view of the Athenaeum authorities, "The members did not see the necessity of sacrificing their own interests, and those of the Institution they had fostered, to a remote and undefined expectancy of public advantage." Judging by Mr. Barr and Mr. Paterson, the Athenaeum is fortunate in its officers. These gentlemen gave me information, time and attention, for which I am glad, though so long afterwards, to be able to express my gratitude.