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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 85

* Athenæeum and Mechanics' Institute. — Henry Richmond, Librarian

* Athenæeum and Mechanics' Institute.

Henry Richmond, Librarian.

This was established in 1865, but has lately, in 1882, been almost recreated and started in a very handsome new building, which I regret I was unable to visit. Mr. Richmond has kindly, from time to time, sent me copies of the North Otago Times, and of the Oamaru Mail, containing notices of the annual report, &c., and from them I gather the following details.

For the year ending January 31st, 1885, the sum of £61 was spent on new books and binding, and £68 on magazines and newspapers, and the subscriptions of membersamounted to £226 15s. The library contained about 4,500 volumes, and, during the year, 9,472 had been circulated, 7,610 of these being works of fiction; 413 new works had been added, and a considerable number of donations were reported.

During 1885, the Athenaeum, appears like other things in Australasia, to have been suffering from the general page 34 depression, for at the annual meeting in February, 1886, the revenue showed a falling off, and the books circulated were less in number than in the previous year. However, an able committee and an energetic librarian will work wonders, and the Oamaru Athenaeum is established on too permanent a basis now to fear retrogression.

The reading-rooms are open daily between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. (Sundays and public holidays excepted), and the library at intervals during the day for the exchange of books; there is a separate reading-room for ladies, and a good supply of English and Colonial newspapers.

The rules with regard to the institution are carefully drawn up, and seem to work well. A system is maintained of bespeaking books which are in circulation, and on the return of the book in question, it is retained for twenty-four hours in the library, for the applicant, who is advised, if he has so arranged, by post, of its return. A neatly got-up classed catalogue was issued in 1883, 8vo., pp. 76, and is, I understand, interleaved and kept up to date. This Athenaeum is a public library, incorporated under the Public Libraries Powers Act, 1875, and in 1883, received a grant of £209 from the Government, but since that date the grant has not exceeded £50 per annum.