PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18239, 25 November 1924, Page 4

PUBLIC LIBRARY.

PURCHASE OF STANDARD WORKS. an interesting discussion. The sub : cct ot' procuring additional non-fiction works for the (hristchurch Public Library was the subject of some discussion at the meeting of the Canterbury College Board of Governors yesterday. In accordance with notice of motion given at a previous mooting of the Board. Mr L. I!. Wood moved:— "That the sum of £OOO allocated for next year's supply of new books < threefourths of which are fiction) in the circulating departments of the Public Librarv, providing as it does for an increase "of on this year 's expenditure, cannot be considered adequate in view of the fact that the revenue from the Gammack bequest, which was devised for the benefit of the circulating department, has unexpectedly increased during the 'current year from £IOOO to £27'2.', u-itli an estimated revenue of £ISOO for the ensuing year. That the

sum of £IOOO be expended in the course of the next three years in tho i purchase of standard works for the nonaction sections of tho circulating department of the library." Speaking to the motion, Mr Wood stated that, some members of the Board were well aware of the fact that there wrs a dearth of standard works in the circulating department of the public library. AVant of funds had been chiefly responsible for this deficiency. During Tecent years, however, so steady had been the' increase in the library account that they had no difoculty in providing for the new library building additions. The library seceived its revenue from two sources—the Gampmack Trust and by public sub Scri-

tions, and last year tliosc had so improved that subscriptions amounted to £2020, and the income from the Gammack Trust £107.3. During the current vcar the finance of the library had been considerably strengthened by an unexpected windfall of £I7OO from the Gam in aok Trust. Iu future years the annual income from this source could be expected to be in the vicinity of £I4OO. This shoved an increase of £3OO on the same annual income from that source during previous years. Mr Wood stated that the purchaso of standard works for the library was one of the objectives of Mr Gammack's bequest. There had been for a goojl many years a tendency to limit expenditure on the circulating department to the sum received from the Gamniack Trust, and a very small section of that was spent on non-fiction works. Mr C. D. Ilardie seconded the motion. He stated that whether it would be possible to spend £IOOO in the next three years on standard works he could not say*. Had the late Mr Gammack been alive during the present time, however, he would have been pleased to see the effort in the direction of the purchase of Standard works. The ordinary business man would tell them that tho fiction section was well catered for and very often the other sections were starved. It was proposed to spend £2OO this year on the purchase of non-fiction works, and thoy might raise that sum to £250.

Motion Opposed. Mr J. J. Dougall said he could not support the motion. The windfall of £I7OO had b?en aUocated. It was hoped that the income from tho Trust would bo increased to £I4OO or more. In the non-fiction portion of the library a very high standard had been fiaaintaincd, and he questioned whether as high a standard was to be found in any other part of New Zealand. The amount expended on standard works in comparison with fietion was small, but it must bo remembered that 80 per cent, of the subscribers demanded fiction. It might bo the policy of tho College to compel people to educate themselves by reading works of quality, but it was open to doubt whether this course could bo adopted through the means of the Public Library. During the last few years tho library had extended enormously, and ho showed in detail the finance of the institution during the last 10 years. A total of £6OO was being spent "on books, and he contended that a third of that sum was a fair proportion to spend on non-fictional works. The money to inejease this amount might bo available in the futuro, but it was not available to-day. If they pledged themselves to buy books, of a certain class during the next three years they might find themselves in a hole at the end of that period. Some non-fictional books had been purchased seven or eight years ago, and had not been taken out of tho library at all, while others had been taken.' out only a very few times. It was a very good thing to have standard workß on the shelves, but thoy were not going to spend £IOOO to keep them there as ornaments. Koughlv £SOOO had been expended in connexion with the additions to the library, and there was no real justification in spending £IOOO on non-fiction works at tho present time. Tho librarian regarded the non-fiction section as well equipped, and as far as general standard was concerned there was'no reason to spend £IOOO on it.

Other Libraries. The chairman, Mr H. D. Acland, submitted the following figures showing the additions made in tho fiction and nonfiction sections in the various libraries in New Zealand in 1923: — Fiction. Xon-Fiction. Christchurch TOO 337 Dunedin .. 601 S'JS Wellington .. 2029 IS3 "Wanganui .. 6SI 150

Mr Acland stated he- did not thifilc there was a demand for non-fiction works from the general public. He did not think it was desirable to spend £IOOO on non-fiction works during tho next three years, but lie thought it would bo advisable to add to that portion of the library from time to time as tho years went on. Considering that the Board was not supported by rates, he thought it was doing the public a very good turn for a verv small fee. Mr *W. Brock said lie had heard complaints about tho library and the difficulty of getting a good class of books. Dr. J. Hight expressed sympathy with Mr Wood's motion, and stated that the Mechanics' Library, the original of the Public Library, was composed entirely of non-fiction "works. The Provincial Government encouraged the purchase by libraries of such volumes, and subsidised their purchase. On the motion of Dr. Hight, seconded by Miss Chaplin, the motion was referred to the Library Committee.