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Title: Report on the State of the Library, December 15, 1836: Electronic Edition.
Author: Owen, William Hayes, ca. 1807-ca. 1877
Funding from the University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill supported the electronic publication of this title.
Text transcribed by Bari Helms
Images scanned by Bari Helms
Text encoded by Sarah Ficke
First Edition, 2005
Size of electronic edition: ca. 10K
Publisher: The University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2005

No Copyright in US

The electronic edition is a part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill digital library, Documenting the American South.
Languages used in the text: English
Revision history:
2005-07-19, Sarah Ficke finished TEI/XML encoding.
Source(s):
Title of collection: University of North Carolina Papers (#40005), University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Title of document: Report on the State of the Library, December 15, 1836
Author: Wm. H. Owen
Description: 2 pages, 2 page images
Note: Call number 40005 (University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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Report on the State of the Library, December 15, 1836
Owen, William Hayes, ca. 1807-ca. 1877



Page 1
The following Report of the State of the Library of the University is respectfully submitted.
From a thorough examination of the Library it appears that shortly after the College went into operation and for a considerable time thereafter much pride was taken by Gentlemen in different parts of the State in making valuable donations of Books to it; but for many years past this spirit of individual munificence has entirely ceased; and as no available appropriation has recently been made by your body, the Library has increased but very little since the additions made to it by the purchases of Dr. Caldwell in Europe.
After the Resolution of your Body was passed empowering the Faculty to appoint some one of their number Receiver of College dues and allowing a certain sum for his compensation the Professors agreed to discharge the duty alternately and to receive only one half of the sum allowed as a compensation and to expend the other half in the purchase of Books; but since the appointment of Prof. Mitchell as Bursar, of course this source of enlargement ceases.
The undersigned believe that he has put the Library in as good a condition as the room in which it is located is susceptible of. It is in the Junior recitation room, and consequently exposed to all that dust which must necessarily be afloat in a Hall which is used by a crowd several times every day. Many of the Books when presented were in a state almost worthless, the binding of others is materially injured. The Faculty deem it unadvisable that these latter should be rebound, for later and better editions of many of them can be procured for a sum equal to or perhaps less than what would be required to rebind them.

Page 2
But the following never have been bound except in boards, and are in a good state of preservation Vizt.
Horne's Introduction 4 vols., Howe's Works 7 do, OEuvres De Blaise Pascal 5 do, OEuvres De Bourdalone 16 do, Thucydides 4 do, Herodoti Opera 4 do, Oratores Attici 16 do, Classical Journal 68 Nos., Athenaens 14 Vols. The Faculty consider it necessary that these Books should be bound, but I should not feel warranted in ordering it, unless authorized by the Executive Committee.
None of the Departments of the different Professors is sufficiently supplied with the necessary Books; that of Modern Languages is particularly deficient.
I have prepared a Catalogue, but I would not venture to have it published without an order from your body. It is the opinion of the Faculty that it is not expedient to publish it until the additions, which they understand you have in contemplation shall have been made.
The number of Books at present is about 1900.

Very respectfully submitted

W. H. Owen , Lib.

December 15th 1836