Survey Of Hospital Libraries Proceeding

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 23, 20 February 1948, Page 5

Survey Of Hospital Libraries Proceeding

With the appointment to thfe staff of a graduate trained in hospital library work at the University of Minnesota, a survey of the existing facilities of libraries in hospitals has been begun, states the Birector of the National Library Service, Mr G. T. Alley, in his annual report. Since the New Zealand Library Association’s questionnaire to Hospital Boards in 1945, it has been realised that libraries for patients are not yet established in all hospitals of the country. Of existing libraries few reach the standard agreed on by overseas hospital librarians and hospital administrators as the minimum.

The provision of adequate hospital library service can best be done by the free public libraries of the country following the example given by Dunedin, Timaru, Greymouth and Tauranga Public Libraries. Service through the public library means that sufficient books of the right type can be provided for all patients, that request and interloan service can be supplied, and that modern developments in hospital libraries can be aimed at.

As a start in promoting the spread of hospital libraries, assistance in the form of books and advice in organising hospital library Service will be offered by National Library Service to boroughs which undertake service to hospital patients. The administration of this library service will be carried out locally, either by the local public librarian or by a committee in cases where help in circulation of books is given by voluntary organisations such as lbe Red Cross Society.