BULLETIN

OF THE

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

George Lockhart Rives, the President of The New York Public Library died at his summer home in Newport on August 18, 1917.

Mr. Rives had been interested in library work in New York City for many years. He was elected a Trustee of the Astor Library in 1883. He resigned that office when appointed Assistant Secretary of State in 1888. After his return to New York he was elected a Trustee of the Lenox Library in 1893, and, upon the consolidation which resulted in the formation of the present New York Public Library, he became a Trustee of the latter body and held that office until his death. He was the first Secretary of The New York Public Library, afterwards became Second Vice-President and First Vice-President, and upon the death of Mr. Cadwalader he was elected President, on May 13, 1914.

While the public spirit for which Mr. Rives was so well known manifested itself in many other works of an educational or charitable nature, in none of these was he more interested than in the Public Library. He took a very active part in the difficult negotiations which resulted in the consolidation of the Astor and Lenox Libraries and the Tilden Trust and in the arrangements with the City of New York which made possible the erection of the Central Building and the establishment and operation of the present extended system of circulating branch libraries; and in the subsequent working out and development of the plans which have resulted in giving to the City of New York one of the

great libraries of the world he was no less interested and active. Possessing the complete trust and confidence of his associates, his ability and sound judgment, his open-mindedness and sense of fairness and his wise counsel were of the greatest service and contributed in a very large measure to the success which has attended the establishment and development of this institution.

Another vacancy in the Board of Trustees during the year was caused by the death of Mr. Frederick Sturges, which occurred at his residence in the City of New York on December 22, 1917.

Mr. Sturges became a Trustee of the Lenox Library in 1879 and served continuously in that capacity until the formation of The New York Public Library in 1895, when he became a Trustee of the latter corporation, a position which he held until his death. His total term of service extended over a period of nearly forty years. He was a Trustee who discharged the duties of his office with earnestness and fidelity, and his associates upon the Board realize, with deep regret, the loss which the Library has suffered through his death.

In their last annual report the Trustees called attention to the urgent need of the Library for additional endowment, and it is now with a very deep sense of gratitude that they record the generous gift made to the Library by the late Colonel Oliver H. Payne in his will.

Colonel Payne had resided for many years in the City of New York, where he died on the 27th of June, 1917. It was not until after his death that the fact became generally known that in his lifetime he had made many liberal gifts to educational and charitable institutions. He was a man of great modesty who disliked publicity of any sort, and his liberal contributions to such objects were made either anonymously or under the pledge that his name should not be known in connection with them. Upon his death it was found that his will contained a large number of important gifts for educational and charitable purposes, and, although he had never been in any way connected with The New York Public Library, among these gifts was one of a million of dollars to the Library.

Such a gift is a great encouragement to those engaged in carrying on the work of the Library. It shows that there are those in the community who, while apparently showing no interest in the work carried on by the Library, are nevertheless observing it and realizing the importance of its service to the public.

In September, 1916, Congress passed an Act imposing a new Federal Estate Tax, which contained no exemption of legacies for educational and philanthropic purposes, and The New York Public Library joined with a great number of educational and charitable institutions in endeavoring to impress upon Congress the justice and necessity of inserting such an exemption in the Act. The attempt, however, was not successful, and by the Act of March 3, 1917, the rates of estate duty were increased, and they were further increased by the War Revenue Act of October 3, 1917. None of these Acts provided

for any exemption of the character desired. It is to be hoped that in the future Congress may be induced to take a more reasonable view of this subject.

The accompanying reports of the Treasurer and Director exhibit, as usual, in detail, the work and operations of the Library during the past year.

The statistics contained therein show the constantly increasing demand by the public upon the facilities furnished by the Library, in both Reference and Circulation Departments, and as the demand increases it becomes more and more difficult for the Library to respond to it for lack of adequate funds for maintenance.

It is also more and more difficult to maintain the efficiency of the service owing to the more remunerative employment offered elsewhere to many of our trained employees. It is shown by the report of the Director that in the last year nineteen per cent. of the employees on the regular staff of the Reference Department, and twenty-seven per cent. of the total number of employees in the Circulation Department resigned to take better paid positions. This condition is a very serious one and threatens the efficiency of the service, but unless the resources of the Library be increased it is impossible for it to raise the salaries of its employees.

The report of the Director contains very interesting statements of the extent to which the facilities of the Library have been availed of in the investigation of subjects which have become important through the entrance of the United States into the war, and the activities in which the Library has been engaged growing out of war conditions.

In May, 1917, the Trustees were informed that the French societies in the City of New York had tendered a reception to the French War Commission, headed by M. Viviani and Marshal Joffre, to be held on the evening of May 10th, and for that purpose requested the use of the Central Library Building in Bryant Park. It was found that if this request were acceded to, it would be necessary to close the library building to the public on the evening of the proposed reception, and, on consultation with the Mayor and Comptroller, it was decided that an amendment or modification of the agreement under which the Library occupies that building should be made between the City, acting by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, and The New York Public Library. Such an amendment was authorized by the Board of Estimate and executed between the City and the Public Library, and the reception was held accordingly.

The more important gifts made to the Library during the year are summarized in the report of the Director.

To fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Rives, Mr. Lewis Cass Ledyard was elected President, and to fill the vacancy in the office of the First Vice-President caused by his election, the Honorable Elihu Root was elected First Vice-President; and Mr. Cleveland H. Dodge was elected Second VicePresident.

LEWIS CASS LEDYARD,

President.