The annual meeting of subscribers of the Shanghai Library took place on Wednesday at the Library under the presidency of Mr. P. J. Hughes, H.B.M.'s Consul, There was a very small attendance.
The report, which was read by the Hon. Secretary (Mr. G. J. Morrison) was as follows The general condition of the Library at the close of 1889 may be looked upon as satisfactory. The credit balance of Tls. 188.32 with which the year opened has been
there being two years' rent of Library build-reduced to Tls. 182.57, although the fact of and Museum included in the accounts fur even taking this into account. the total ives the Library a net advantage of Ils 50.
excess of expenditure over income has been trifling.
'The receipts from ordinary subscriptions have been Tls. 1,474 against Ths, 1,519 for 1888, and it is to the increase of this' source of income by obtaining additional subscribe ers that the members must look to im-Uonimuttee hope that members will do what roving the position of the Library. The they can, by bringing the Library to the notice of new arrivals, to obtain fresh names to replace those lost by subscribers going home.
The amount e: ded in books was Tls. 870.47 against Tls. 737.62 in the previous year, and during 1889 there have been added to the Library 439 books of 449 volumes. There have been issued to subscribers during the year 11,261 books exclusive of periodicals, The question of providing accommodation for the Library either in the same place or elsewhere at the expiry of the present lease two years hence, was s0 fully discussed last year that nothing remains to be said on this occasion, but steps must be taken to put some definite scheme before the subscribers at the next annual meeting 'As the Library contains over 7,500 distinct works, including a large number of standard works' and books of reference, and as it is open free to the public for several hours a day its welfare la a matter of interest not only for the subscribers but for the whole community.
most efficiently carried out by the Librarians, he general work of the Library has been Mr. and Mrs, Gale, and the thanks of the subscribers are due to them for the very carefal manner in which the books are circu lated to those who have applied for them.
The thanks of the subscribers are also due to Mr. James Hall for kindly auditing the accounts, Abstract of the income and expenditure of the Shanghai Library for the year 1889; Ast January—Tis. To Balance forward from 1888 Bist December—To Subscription for 1888.
Subscriptions for 1889 Sale of Catalogues Books replaced Sale of Stove Municipal Grant Rent of Museum 1888 Rent of Museum 1889 Interest on Bank Account Gain by Ex a 3 Subscriptions collected far 1890
Tis, 2,141.19
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.