FISK FREE ARD PUBliIG 
 
 lilBHARY 
 
 OF HEW OHliEflHS. 
 
 Organized April 16, 1896. 
 
 The John C rerar Li brmy 
 
0 3 0 > 
 
 3 > 3 3 3 ) 
 
 FISK FREE"A^J0:,FIIBI!:G 
 
 M 3, 3 33 3,* 3 3 3,^ 33 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF NEW ORLEANS. 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 
 BY-LAWS. 
 
 NEW ORLEANS : 
 
 L. GRAHAM & SON, LTD., PRINTERS. 
 1897. 
 
OF DIRECTORS. 
 
 •» I •/••••• •• 
 
 . :K]&*ANK :r: HOW^^IU), President. 
 
 , . EliNlgSa'. B. JCRUTTSCHNITT, V. Pres. 
 
 ELYNN, Secretary and Treasurer. 
 
 : ; ; • •eeLctng. 
 
 FRED. G. ERNST. 
 
 ALBERT BALDWIN, Jr. 
 
 SIDNEY H. MARCH. 
 
 HON. WALTER C. FLOWER, Ex Officio. 
 JOHN FITZPATRICK. 
 
 FINANCE. 
 
 A. Baldwin, Jr., Chairman. 
 
 Sidney H. March. John Fitzpatrick. 
 
 ADMINISTRATION. 
 
 P. A. Lelong, Chairman. 
 
 Fred. G. Ernst. Sidney H. March. 
 
 BOOKS AND PERIODICALS. 
 
 E. B. Kruttschnitt, Chairman 
 A. Baldwin, Jr. P. A. Lelong. 
 
 BY-LAWS AND RULES. 
 
 Sidney H. March, Chairman. 
 
 E. B. Kruttschnitt. John Fitzpatrick. 
 
 CIRCULATING STATIONS. 
 
 Fred. G. Ernst, Chairman. 
 
 A. Baldwin, Jr. John Fitzpatrick. 
 
 Wm. Beer, Librarian. 
 
oa7 , 
 
 A/ 
 
 ( 
 
 CITY LiBKAKY. 
 
 In a catalog’ue of the Public School Library 
 of Municipality Xo. 2, published in 1848, it 
 is stated that the library owes its origin to 
 the enlightened spirit of the council of Muni- 
 cipality Xo. 2 of the city of Xew Orleans, 
 and is founded on an ordinance submitted 
 to that body by Sami. J. Peters, Esq., and 
 adopted on the 3d of December, 1844. On 
 December 19 Mr. Peters handed over to 
 the library, from an individual unknown, 
 the sum of $1000; by February 1, 1845, 
 Mr. Shaw had collected from the schools 
 $391.75. The monthly collection through him 
 amounted to about $100, for some years. On 
 February 15, 1845, $500 was presented by James 
 Robb, Esq. Fines formed a large portion of 
 the revenue. From the 15th of April to the 
 31st of December, 1845, these amounted to 
 $2890.30. 
 
 The first regular librarian was Mr. Samuel 
 McConnell. The names of many persons now 
 prominent in the city are registered on the 
 books as members. The number of members 
 to May the 9th, 1853, was 530, made up of: 
 
 Life members 504 
 
 Honorary life members 3 
 
 Annual subscribers 23 
 
 The directors of public schools adopted fur- 
 ther measures to establish the library on the 
 10th of March, 1840. The collection consisted 
 
 
 
 wmld 
 
at that time of 3400 volumes. It occupied the 
 lower front room in the building, now occupied 
 by Soule's Commercial College, corner of St. 
 Charles and Lafayette streets, at that time 
 used as the City Hall. 
 
 In 1848 the library numbered 7516 volumes, 
 of which 248 had been presented. 
 
 Oh the completion of the City Hall in 1849 
 the Library was transferred to the spacious 
 room on the first floor which it occupied unin- 
 terruptedly until it was removed in 1897. 
 
 In 1859 it was resolyed to consolidate with 
 the library already existing those of the First, 
 Third and Fourth Districts. To that end was 
 passed Ordinance jN^o. 4439, which was ap- 
 proved on March 18. 1859. 
 
 The official title of Lyceum and Library 
 Society was given to the united libraries, and 
 it was placed under the sole direction and 
 control of five directors, to be named by the 
 Mayor and approved by the alderman. 
 
 In January, 1873, the City Library and 
 Lyceum Hall were placed under the control 
 and supervision of the Mayor, with sole 
 authority to provide rules for same. 
 
 Mrs. Culbertson, the last Librarian, occu- 
 pied that position from 1873 to 1897. 
 
 _ 4 _ 
 
WILL OF ARIJAH FISK. 
 
 State of Louisiana, “I 
 City of JSTew Orleans. / 
 
 Be it known and remembered, That I, Abi- 
 jah Fisk, of said city and State, being of 
 sound and disposing mind and memory, 
 and in good state of health; but mindful 
 of the certainty of death, and of the 
 uncertainty of the time thereof, do make 
 this my last '‘Will” and testament, in the 
 manner as follows, viz. ; I give to the Hon. 
 Charles Watts $5000, or, in other words, I 
 give and bequeath the sum of $5000 to the 
 Hon. Charles Watts, of the city of ]Kew Or- 
 leans, at present judge of the Commercial 
 Court, of ]Kew Orleans. I give, devise and 
 bequeath the sum of $5000 to Joseph H. Lyon, 
 at present one of my clerks, as a gratuity for 
 his faithful services. I give, devise and be- 
 queath to the city of Xew Orleans my house at 
 the corner of Customhouse and Bourbon 
 streets, on condition that it shall be applied to 
 the keeping of a library forthe^use and benefit 
 of the citizens of said city, and to be used for no 
 other purpose. The balance of my estate I 
 give, bequeath and devise to the children of 
 my brother, Alvarez Fisk, viz. : '‘Stewart Wil- 
 kins,” -‘Alice,” “Edward” and “Isabel,” to 
 be shared equally. Those who are twenty -one 
 years old to come into possession immediately. 
 Those wlio are under that age shall have their 
 
portion securely placed at interest or invested 
 in stores, producing an income, favorably 
 located in this city, by iny executors, until 
 they are twenty-one years old, when posses- 
 sion may be given them. 
 
 I nominate and appoint ‘‘ Stewart Wilkins 
 Fisk and Hon. Charles Watts as executors to 
 this my last will and testament, jointly and 
 severally, giving them seizin and detainer of 
 my estate, and appointing them until my 
 estate is fully liquidated and settled.. 
 
 In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- 
 scribed my name to this my olographic testa- 
 ment, this twenty-seventh day of IS'ovember, 
 one thousand eight hundred and forty-three, 
 in the city of New Orleans. 
 
 (Signed) Aki.tah Fisk. 
 
 I recommend my executors to employ 
 Joseph H. Lyon, as clerk in settling up my 
 estate, who is well acquainted with the loca- 
 tion of all my property, and with debtors. I 
 estimate my estate at $300,000 at least, and 
 should recommend the division of my real 
 estate among the four children of my brother 
 Alvarez, which I have named in my will, in 
 preference to selling — the money could not be 
 better invested if the real estate be sold. 
 
 (Signed) Abijah Fisk. 
 
 I certify this to be a true copy of the copy 
 of the will handed me by Alvarez Fisk, Esq. 
 
 New Orleans, May 24, 1853. 
 
 (Signed) Wm. Monaghan, 
 
 Notary Public. 
 
 — 6 — 
 
State of Louisiana, l 
 City of yew Orleans. | 
 
 I hereby certify the above and forego- 
 ing to be a true and correct copy of the orig- 
 inal act and of the original exhibit thereto 
 annexed, both on tile and of record in my 
 office. 
 
 In faith whereof I hereunto set my hand and 
 affix my seal of office, on this 29th day of Feb- 
 ruary, A. D. 1884. 
 
 M. VOORHIES. 
 
 — 7 — 
 
MESSAGES AND OEDINANCES KELAT- 
 ING TO THE FISK FEEE AND 
 PUBLIC LIBKAKY. 
 
 January 9 , 1895 . 
 
 Official Proceedings. Mayor's Message. 
 
 I recommend that the building formerly oc- 
 cupied by the Criminal District Court he de- 
 voted to the use of a public library wherein 
 both the library at the City Hall and the Fisk 
 Library, now in charge of the Administrators 
 of the Tulane Educational Fund, and which, 
 owing to their removal to new quarters, will 
 have to be changed from its present location, 
 could be concentrated and our citizens be given 
 the benefit of a great free library, a long felt 
 public w^ant. 
 
 I submit that the necessary alterations to 
 the building can be made with but slight ex- 
 penditures, and I would ask your serious con- 
 sideration of the subject. Kespectfully, 
 
 John Fitzpatrick, Mayor. 
 
 February 2 , 1895 . 
 Ordinance No. 10^254.^ C. S. 
 
 An Ordinance dedicating for the use as a 
 Public Library the building formerly 
 occupied by the Criminal District Court. 
 
 Whereas, a great library thoroughly 
 equipped and centrally located would be an at- 
 traction to our citizens, as well as to visitors, 
 
 — 8 - 
 
and would redound to the intellectual culture 
 and welfare of the public, and 
 
 Whereas, the building forming the corner 
 of Lafayette and Camp streets, and lately occu- 
 pied by the Criminal District Court, is now 
 vacant, and is well adapted to this purpose ; 
 therefore be it 
 
 Besolved by the Council of the City of Neio Or- 
 leans, That said building be and is hereby dedi- 
 cated for the use and purpose of a Public 
 Library. 
 
 Be it further ordained. That the City En- 
 gineer be and is hereby directed to prepare 
 plans and specifications for the alteration of 
 the interior of said building to meet the re- ^ 
 quirements and wants of such purpose. 
 
 Adopted by the Council of the city of ISTew 
 Orleans, January 29, 1895. 
 
 Dan a. Rose, 
 
 Clerk of Council. 
 
 Approved February 2, 1895. 
 
 John Fitzpatrick, 
 
 Mayor. 
 
 A true qopy : 
 
 Clark Steen, 
 
 Secretary to the Mayor. 
 
 Mayoralty of ^^'ew Orleans, \ 
 City Hall, April 15, 1896. j 
 
 No. 12.217, Council Series. 
 
 An Ordinance establishing a Public Library 
 in the city of New Orleans, and provid- 
 ing for the management of same. 
 
 Be it Besolved.! That the Fisk Free Library, 
 now located in the Tulane University, and 
 
 — 9 — 
 
under the management of the Board of Ad- 
 ministrators of the Tulane Fund, and the library 
 now located in the City Hall be dedicated 
 under Ordinance I^o. 10,254, C. S., for a Public 
 Library and situated at the corner of Camp 
 and Lafayette streets, and that said consoli- 
 dated library shall be known as the Fisk Free 
 and Public Library of the city of IS'ew Orleans. 
 
 Sec. 2. Be it further ordained^ That the man- 
 agement of said Fisk Free and Public Library 
 shall be in charge of a Board of Directors who 
 shall be appointed by the Mayor and to be 
 styled the Board of Directors of the Fisk Free 
 and Public Library of the city of Xew Orleans. 
 
 » The said board shall be composed of seven di- 
 rectors, together with the Mayor of the city of 
 IN’ew Orleans, who shall be ex-officio chairman 
 of said Board of Directors. 
 
 Sec. 3. Be it further ordained^ That the 
 Mayors of the city of ]^ew Orleans upon the 
 expiration of their term of office shall not 
 vacate the office of director of said Fisk Free 
 and Public Library, but shall continue life 
 directors of same, and in this manner and in no 
 other shall said Board of Directors be in- 
 creased. 
 
 Sec. 4. The said Board of Directors shall 
 have authority to fill vacancies arising in sa d 
 board from death, resignation or otherwise, and 
 shall adopt all rules for the government of said 
 library, subject, however, to the approval of 
 the Mayor. 
 
 Sec. 5. The said board shall elect a President 
 and Secretary, and shall meet at least once a 
 month and adopt such measures as in their 
 
 — 10 — 
 
judgment shall best promote the growth of the 
 library and make it an instrument of public 
 interest and utility. 
 
 Sec. 6. Be it farther ordained^ That all rev- 
 enues received from the Fisk Free and Public 
 Library bequest and all moneys received from 
 rental of offices, etc., in the said library 
 building shall be set aside as a separate fund 
 by the Comptroller and shall be used for the 
 conducting of said library, as well as all other 
 funds appropriated by the city of Xew Orleans 
 for library purposes. 
 
 SEC. 7. Beit farther ordained^ That Ordinance 
 IN'o. 7539, Administration Series, transferring 
 to the Administrators of the University of 
 Louisiana the Fisk Free and Public Library 
 and the property and funds attached thereto, 
 and all other ordinances on the subject of 
 public libraries, be and the same is hereby 
 repealed. 
 
 Adopted by the Council of the city of ISTew 
 Orleans, April 14, 1896. 
 
 Dan a. Rose, 
 
 Clerk of Council. 
 
 Approved April 14, 1896. 
 
 John Fitzpatrick, 
 Mayor. 
 
 A true copy : 
 
 Clark Steen, 
 
 Secretary to the Mayor. 
 
 April 21, 1895. 
 
 Official Proceedings. May or’’ s Message. 
 
 I beg to submit in accordance with provi- 
 sions of Ordinance Xo. 12,217, C. S., 1 have 
 
 — 11 — 
 
 UBRAR? - 
 UNIVERSnY or IIUIKMI 
 
appointed the following gentlemen a Board of 
 Directors of the Fisk Free and Public Library, 
 viz. : Messrs. Frank T. Howard, Albert Bald- 
 win, Jr., P. A. Belong, Fred. G. Ernst, E. B. 
 Kruttschnitt, Geo. W. Flynn and Sidney H. 
 March, and request your approval of same. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Louque the action of the 
 Mayor was approved. 
 
 Mayoralty of IS^ew Orleans. \ 
 City Hall, September 30, 896. j 
 
 Ab. 12,706. Council Series, 
 
 An Ordinance by Committee Ao. 2, amending 
 and re-enacting Sec. 6 of Ordinance Ao. 
 12,217, C. S., an ordinance creating and 
 establishing a public library in the city 
 of Aew Orleans, and providing for the 
 management of same. 
 
 Be it ordained by the City Council of the city 
 of New Orleans, That Sec. 6 of Ordinance No. 
 12,217, C. S., be and the same is hereby 
 amended as follows : 
 
 Sec. 6. — Be it further ordained, That all 
 revenues received and to be received from 
 the Fisk Free and Public Library bequest, 
 from the rental of offices or rooms in the 
 library building and from the sale of priv- 
 leges within the library, and all funds 
 now to the credit of the New Fisk Li- 
 brary or of the furnishing of the said library, 
 as well as all sum or sums of money now or 
 hereafter to be appropriated by the city, or 
 accruing from any bequests or legacies made 
 to said city for library purposes, be and the 
 same are hereby put under the control of said 
 
 — 12 — 
 
board of directors. It shall be the duty of the 
 Comptroller to place said revenues, funds and 
 sums of money so received, bequeathed or ap- 
 propriated to the credit of said board, and to 
 warrant for the same on the Treasurer in favor 
 of said board on the orders or requisitions 
 signed by its president. 
 
 The said board shall expend said revenues, 
 funds and sums .of money for the maintenance 
 and administration of said library. In further- 
 ance of the authority herein delegated to said 
 board, it shall have full power to engage all 
 the employees of the library, to fix their com- 
 pensation, and to discharge them at will. 
 
 It shall make semi-annual reports to the 
 city of its receipts and expenditures, and of the 
 library. 
 
 Be it farther ordained^ That Ordinance 
 12,217, C. S., as amended above, be and the 
 same is hereby re-enacted. 
 
 Adopted by the Council of the city of IN'ew 
 Orleans, September 29, 1896. 
 
 T. W. Campbell, 
 Assistant Clerk of Council. 
 
 Approved September 30, 1896. 
 
 W. C. Flower, 
 
 Mayor. 
 
 A true copy : 
 
 T. H. Thorpe, 
 
 Secretary to the Mayor. 
 
 — 13 — 
 
BY-LAWS. 
 
 Article 1. Regular meetings of the Board 
 of Directors shall be held on the second Mon- 
 day of every month, at 7:30 f. m., and at all 
 meetings a majority of the board shall consti- 
 tute a quorum. 
 
 The order of business shall be as follows : 
 
 1. Reading the records of the previous meet- 
 ing. 
 
 2. Reports of officers. 
 
 3. Reports from standing committees. 
 
 4. Reports from special committees. 
 
 5. Communications. 
 
 6. Untinished business. 
 
 7. Yew business. 
 
 Special meetings shall be called by the Sec- 
 retary, upon the written request of the Presi- 
 dent or any two directors, and a notice thereof 
 of not less than two days shall be given to 
 each director, in which shall be stated the 
 object of the meeting, and no business shall be 
 transacted at such meeting except such as is 
 stated in the notice. 
 
 Art. 2. The officers of the Board of Direc- 
 tors shall consist of a Chairman ex officio (the 
 Mayor of the city Y e w Orleans) , a President, 
 Vice President and a Secretary-Treasurer. All 
 officers, except the Chairman ex officio^ shall be 
 elected for the term of one year, and shall hold 
 their offices until their successors shall have 
 been elected and qualified. They shall be 
 
 — 14 — 
 
elected at the regular monthly meeting in Feb- 
 ruary of each year. 
 
 Art. 3. There shall be five standing com- 
 mittees, to be appointed by the President, 
 namely : 
 
 1. Committee on Books and Periodicals. 
 
 2. Committee on Administration. 
 
 3. Committee on Finance. 
 
 4. Committee on Rules and By-Laws. 
 
 5. Committee on Circulating Delivery Sta- 
 tions. 
 
 Each committee to consist of three members. 
 
 Art. 4. The President shall be ex officio a 
 member of each of the committees, without 
 power to vote. It shall be his duty to preside 
 at all meetings of the board; to sign all 
 vouchers approved by the board, upon w^hich 
 drafts shall have been drawn by the Secretary - 
 Treasurer on the funds of the board; to ap- 
 point the standing committees for the year; to 
 prepare for the consideration of the board 
 such special recommendations as he may see 
 fit for the advancement and welfare of the 
 library. 
 
 Art. 5. In the absence or inability of the 
 President, all the duties of that officer shall be 
 performed by the Vice President. 
 
 Art. 6. It shall be the duty of the Secretary- 
 Treasurer to keep a neat, exact and permanent 
 record of the meetings of the Board of Direc- 
 tors. He shall also keep, when required to do 
 so, minutes of the transactions of the commit- 
 tees of the board. The Secretary-Treasurer 
 shall also, under the supervision of the Finance 
 Committee, be the financial officer of the 
 
Library Commission, and keep its accounts and 
 receive and deposit and account for all moneys 
 which may come into or accrue to the com- 
 mission from bequests, legacies, donations, 
 fines or from any other source whatever. He 
 shall also make to the board, at its meeting in 
 each month, a statement of all moneys received 
 and disbursed by him in the preceding month, 
 and once each quarter he shall report the con- 
 dition of the treasury, appending thereto a cer- 
 tificate as to the correctness of all his books 
 for said quarter. And he shall perform such 
 other duties as the Board of Commissioners 
 may direct, and give such security as the board 
 may order. 
 
 Art. 7. The Board of Directors shall at their 
 first meeting, after the adoption of these By- 
 Laws, elect a Librarian, an Assistant Librarian 
 and such other assistants as they may deter- 
 mine as necessary for the proper running of 
 the library, and the officers so elected shall 
 hold their offices subject to the approval of the 
 board. The Chief Librarian shall, under the 
 control of the board, have charge of the rooms 
 and working force of the library, and shall be 
 responsible for the care and safety of the 
 books and other puDlic property contained 
 therein, and for the preservation of order in 
 the rooms. He shall prepare for the use of the 
 Committee on Books and Periodicals lists of 
 books to be purchased; and shall have execu- 
 tive superintendence of all matters subject to 
 the supervision and approval of the several 
 standing committees. He shall report to the 
 Committee on Books and Periodicals, at the 
 
 — 16 — 
 
monthly meetings of the Board of Directors, 
 upon the condition and circulation of the 
 books for the preceding month, and shall also 
 make a semi-annual report to the Board of 
 Directors at its regular monthly meeting in the 
 months of March and October, each year. 
 
 In the absence of the Chief Librarian, through 
 sickness or any other cause, the duties of the 
 Librarian shall devolve upon the First Assist- 
 ant Librarian. 
 
 Art. 8. The Committee on Books and 
 Periodicals shall have control and super- 
 vision in all matters relating to the selection, 
 purchase, exchange and binding of books and 
 periodicals, the sale and exchange of dupli- 
 cates, and of old magazines and papers not 
 kept for tiling and binding; the arrangement, 
 printing, sale and disposition of catalogues 
 and of the statistics of circulation; and in all 
 matters relating to the stamps, plates, labels 
 and printed forms in use in the library. It 
 shall be the duty of the committee to report 
 upon the condition of the books to the Board 
 of Directors at its regular monthly meetings. 
 It shall be their duty to report upon the gen- 
 eral progress of the library, and to examine, 
 from time to time, the books and periodicals 
 in the room. I^o purchase of books or period- 
 icals shall be made except by the authority of 
 the Board of Directors. As to the matters 
 under their supervision they shall report an- 
 nually to the Board of Directors at the regular 
 meeting in the month of February, each year. 
 
 Art. 9. The Committee on Administration 
 shall have supervision in the following : In 
 
 — 17 — 
 
matters relating to the appointment and con- 
 trol and remuneration of the employees of the 
 library; to the arrangements for the circula- 
 tion of books and periodicals, and for the 
 needful examination of the library. They 
 shall have full control of the buildings and 
 property belonging to the library; to the col- 
 lection of rents, and the making of all neces- 
 sary repairs; to the providing; of all supplies, 
 and they shall exercise a general supervision 
 over all matters pertaining to the welfare of 
 the library. They shall make the rules and 
 regulations governing the Library Staff, the 
 hours for meals, the hours for opening and 
 closing the library, the rules governing the 
 readers and all other rules necessary for run- 
 ning the library. As to all matters under 
 their su]3er vision they shall report annually at 
 the regular meeting in February each year. 
 
 Art. 10. The Finance Committee shall exer- 
 cise a general supervision of the finances of 
 the board; shall direct the form and manner 
 in which the Secretary-Treasurer shall keep 
 the accounts and books; shall pass upon all 
 bills and shall attach to same their written 
 approval, through its chairman, and shall de- 
 cide upon the best manner of caring for, in- 
 vesting and disbursing of all moneys received 
 by the Board of Commissioners from any 
 source whatever. They shall examine the 
 books of the Secretary-Treasurer and attach 
 their approval or disapproval to all his reports 
 or accounts. 
 
 Art. 11 . The Committee on Eules and By- 
 Laws shall consider and report upon all prop- 
 
 — 18 — 
 
ositions for the amendment, repeal and revision 
 of any of the by-laws of the library, and 
 upon all legal questions arising in the board. 
 
 Art. 12. The Committee on Delivery Sta- 
 tions shall have the general charge and care of 
 the delivery stations established by the board 
 and of all matters under their supervision. 
 They shall report annually to the board at the 
 regular meeting in the month of February. 
 
 Art. 13. At any meeting the ayes and nays 
 shall be called upon on any question before the 
 board, at the request of one member. 
 
 Art. 14. All proposed expenditures of 
 money, except current and incidental expendi- 
 tures, shall, unless otherwise ordered by the 
 board, be referred to the proper committee for 
 consideration and report thereon, and no 
 appropriation shall be made, or indebtedness 
 incurred, to an amount exceeding one hundred 
 dollars, without the concurring votes of a 
 majority of the board. 
 
 Art. 15. The employment, compensation 
 and discharge of all employees of the Libraiy 
 Board shall be considered only in executive 
 session. 
 
 Art. 17. The employees of the library shall 
 be subject to suspension at any time by the 
 Administration Committee, or by the Chief 
 Librarian, or the First Assistant, when acting 
 as Chief Librarian, for absence without leave, 
 want of attention to business, unreasonable 
 waste of time, want of courtesy toward the 
 public, or improper behavior generally. When 
 a suspension shall have been ordered by the 
 Committee, or Librarian or Assistant Libra- 
 
 — 19 — 
 
rian, as aforesaid, such suspension, with the 
 reasons therefor, shall he reported to the 
 Board of Directors at its next regular monthly 
 meeting for its approval or disapproval; pro- 
 vided the report of such suspension, with the 
 reasons therefor, be made to the Board of 
 Directors by the Committee on Administra- 
 tion. When the suspension is made by the 
 Librarian or Assistant, as hereinbefore pro- 
 vided, the fact and reasons therefor shall he 
 made direct to the Committee on Administra- 
 tion. 
 
 Employees absent from duty shall forfeit 
 their pay during the time of their absence, 
 unless excused by the Librarian, who may, at 
 his discretion, grant leave of absence for not 
 more than one day in each month. 
 
 Art. 18. These by-laws may be altered, 
 amended or repealed by a majority of the 
 directors, but no such action shall be taken 
 except at a regular meeting, subsequent to the 
 regular meeting at which such action was 
 proposed. 
 
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