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