BETTER LITERATURE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 10, 26 March 1947, Page 5

BETTER LITERATURE

COUNTRY LIBRARY SERVICE .REPORT TO BOROUGH COUNCIL The Whakatane Public Library Committee, which has been long engaged on the scheme of improving the existing service by including the Governmentsponsored Country Library Service, has submitted the proposal in full to the Borough Council seeking its approval and sanction. The actual cost means approximately 2/- per head of the population of 2,800 in the Borough which amounts to £2BO per annum.

The scheme is outlined by the •committee as under:—

In putting forward a case for free

libraries, it is maintained that our present Library system is a poor one and that the faults lie to a large extent with the subscription method of financing public libraries. No reflection whatsoever, is cast upon the excellent, arduous and . thankless task of library- committeemen or the Library staff who for years have endeavoured to maintain a reasonable library service, but who have laboured under handicapping conditions due to (a) lack of finance and (b) the subscription method.

During the war years, Public Sub-

scription Libraries have been fur- \ iher faced with ever increasing book purchase prices. The subscription to readers has remained static, less books have been purchased and few, if any, additional subscribers have been enrolled. A Comparison The other argument, equally .strong and practical, is the conspicuous success of the few free libraries that have been established in New Zealand. Its contrast with the response to subscription service is .striking. The following figures bear this out:— Libraries in New Zealand serving a population of less than 10,000. Percentage of population registered as borrowers (A.L.A. American Library Assn). Subscription Libraries A.L.A. Standard: 50 per cent., N.Z. 5.7 per cent., Whakatane 5.4 per cent. Free Libraries: A.L.A. Standard 50 per cent., N.Z. 28.2 per cent. The above figure for Whakatane of 5.4 per cent, is based on the present number of Library subscribers (150) as compared with a Borough population of 2,800. This means that 1 (one) person in every 19 persons resident in the Borough is a registered borrower and receiving a Library service. The figure under /the Free Service operating in New Zealand is 28.8 per cent, of population, which, in the case of Whakatane would be 'B4O borowers or, in other words, one person in every three persons resident in the Borough would be receiving a library service. The argument may be put in another form, which is comparative with the New Zealand Free Library figure of 28.8 per cent., namely: There are over 600 dwellings in the Borough of a population of 2800.

'This works out at a little over four persons in each household. It would only require one person in

each house to be a registered library reader for the figure' of 28.8 per cent, *to be nearly reached. Public Money Wasted

It is unreasonable to say auto-

cratically that people shall not be allowed to read what they want But it is reasonable to say that public money shall not be spent merely to provide amusement. Especially when it is amusement for only a very small minority. For example: The town of X, with about 3000 inhabitants, has a library with 150 subscribers. In 1946' £SO was granted out of the Local Authority’s rates for Library purposes. The library subscription rate being 10/- per annum. This signifies that each subscriber, paying 10/- p.a. for his borrowing privileges, was not given an annual subsidy of 6/8 out. of public funds. Every man, woman and child in town paying, in effect, 4d p.a. in order that 5.2 per cent, of the population might be supplied with light fiction.

As stated in the opening remarks, there are conflicting forces, confronting Library Committees, which make it impossible for a public library to depend upon a large portion of its income from subscriptions and at the same time build up a well balanced library service.

Free Service

In all progressive countries Library service is given free, that is, it is provided for either out of local rates assisted from Government sources or a combination of both. The last mentioned method is the one adopted in New Zealand. That is, under C.L.S. the local authority finds the funds for the administration and staffing of the library and

Each library under C.L.S. has been receiving up to 30 periodicals chosen from a list, in lots of 6 to 8, sending its initial lot to another library by post after one month and receiving another in the same way. Case For Whakatane It must be clearly understood that Free Libraries will cost the Local .Authority more but the extra expense involved, being small in ratio to the number of people bearing the burden, will bring an enormous incrase in service. Unless the library is giving an adequate service it does not justify the contribution of any public money whatsoever. The following proposals are therefore drafted with the view of providing an adequate library service: Control: To participate in -the Country Library Service, the Borough Council assumes control and is responsible for the administration, staffing and finances of the library.. The council nominates its committee (say two or three members) who co-opt members from the reading public (say two readers representatives). The Mayor is exofficio of the committee. The Town Clerk acts as • Secretary-Treasurer and all receipts are paid into the council’s funds. The library account being a separate account in the books. The Librarian usually assumes control in all book purchases, providing such purchases are within the current year’s estimates or from profits out of the Pay Collection Service.

Library Hours: In order-that hours for changing books may coincide with hours most suitable to the public, both town and country, the

following hours are suggested: Monday to Friday inclusive 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. 7a- hours per week; Monday to Friday inclusive 1.30 p.m.. da 3 p.m. 7-2- hours per weekff Monday to Friday inclusive 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. 2| hours per week; Fridays 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. 1 hour per week. Total hours of service 181- per week.

Staff: It is estimated that the present readers will increase from 150 town members to 900 to 1,000 and that the country members will be doubled i.e. 25 to 50. In order to cope with the increase in bobk issue, the' services of well trained High School girls who have had experience in C.L.S. at the school could well be given consideration at a nominal remuneration.

Book Purchases: To cater for the fiction needs of such an increase in readers, it will be necessary to purchase more books of fiction to place on the “Free” reading shelves, or alternatively, to supplement the C.L.S. free-fiction books by means of the pay collection system. Or again, a combination of both, and dividing the profits from the pay collection service equally between library administration and new book purchases. Book- Issues: The following are suggestions: Each borrower entitles to two books each issue. Extra books from library’s free shelves at 3d each. Pay rental books (Red R) “Most popular fiction” at 6d each. Pay rental books (Blue R) “All other fiction” at 3d each. Reserves for books—3d each. Free issue books to be returned within 14 days from date of issue. Rental (Pay Collection) books to be returned within 7 days from issue. Fines: On ail books Id per day per book from due date. Enrolment: 1. Enrolment of r£?tepayer or members of ratepayer’s family by signing application form. 2. Enrolment of resident, by signing an application form guaranteed by a ratepayer. (To cover costs of lost books or books not returned).