LINWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18418, 26 June 1925, Page 12

LINWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY.

ANNUAJL MEETING. The sixteenth annual meeting of the Linwood .Public -library was hold last night. There was a largo attendance, and Mr J. A. Flcsher was in the chair. The annual report stated that the list of subscribers had readied the total of 1710, which showed that the membership had been well maintained. The number of bcoks added to the library during the year was lolti, an average of 12j per month, .miring the period, 861 volumes' were, discarded, most of which wero worn out, which gave a total -of 13..G6G volumes on the shelves and in circulation, including the Fairclcugh collection. The amount expended on bo-ks, periodicals, magazines, and newspapers Mas £495 5s 3d, an increase, of £2S las 5d over , last ..year. The total sum received from sub'scribers' Was £720 19s id. The total assets' of tho library represented £1543 12s Sd, the liabilities being nil. Tho thanks of the committee and subscribers wero duo to the ladies, who had continued to act as honorary librarians on certain .afternoons, and to Messrs D. Richardson, C. J. Gcx and A. Bunker, who gave up their Saturday afternoons to tho library. Part of tho nonfiction section of tho library had been provided with sliding glasß doors, with tho object of keeping in security certain valuable hooka which the committee did not desire to go into gonoral circulation. The juvenile section had shown marked increase in popularity, and 296 well selected books had been added, making a total of 1220 volumes in the department. The dilapidated books committee had given good service, a large num-ber-of books having been reconditioned. As far as the magazine section was concerned, forty-one different magazines were, placed in circulation each month, innd there were also placed in the reading Toom nine monthly magazines and six monthly periodicals, including the London illustrated weeklies, old books aud periodicals had been given awiy to various charitable institutions for the use of many people who would otherwise have small opportunity for acquiring reading mattor of such a nature. it was regretted by iho committee that serious Josses had oc curred, numbers of books having been stolen from the library, and steps had been taken to correct this, and the method of checking books had proved satisfactory, and had been adopted permanently. Mr Flesher spoke on the report, remarking on the efficient manner in which the library was conducted, and the general prosperity of the library. He said that Linwood had what was probably the best library of its kind in tho city, and ho stressed the importance of tho children's section. In conclusion, Mr Flesher said that it was unfottunate that there were some people who would purloin books from tho library. He hoped that tho practice would cease. In seconding Mr Flesher's motion for the adoption of the report, Mr G. N. Hayley said that the committee had in view the cud of securing 2000 subscribers to the library. Tho subscribers were • fortunate in their committee, who had their whole hearts in tho work. In regard to the stealing of books, it was not tho subscribers who were responsible, but people who formerly were able to come in off the street and take books out, It was not until a librarian was put on duty at the door of tho lending department that tho thefts ceased. Owing to some ground, previously used as a yard, having become available, it would be possible to extend tho promises, if such a course should become advisable in tho future,

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr J. A. Flcsher; president, Mr Q-. N. "HayleyY vice-presidents, Councillors Andrews, Leadley, and Sullivan, Messrs D. Richardson, H Burson. A. Marshall, and C. P. Rutland: trustees, Jlessvs W. W. Tanner and D. Richardson: auditors, Messrs A. B. Salvesen, and A. Brrttell; committee, Messrs F. W. Burson, A. Bunker, D. J. Burgess, S. B. Byford. H. J. Bowlker, C. J. Cox, M. Clark, A. S. Forrester, H. W. Friedman, E. A. Harris, "W. H. Main, F. Mclvor, M. Rolls, A. E. Salveson, A. E. Seeker. N. 11. Thompson, E. G. Thomas. AV. G. Williams, H. S. Wakeham, R. R. AViltshire, A. Brettoll, and H. Muff: treasurer, Mr E. C. Thomas; secretary, Mr E. E. Wiltshire. It was decided that the qualification for life membership should bo that a life member should he one who had served for fifteen yours, not necessarily in consecutive yeaia, on the committee.

A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the officers of the library for their services during the past year. Mr Fleshcr'was thanked for his constant help and services to tho library at all times.