Local Library Re-opens

Chronicle (Levin), 12 November 1948, Page 3

Local Library Re-opens

.The Mayoress of Shannon, 'Mrs. D. Fitzgerald, at a brief ceremony on Tuesday afternoon offioially declared the library open and. "free." The library has been closed for several weeks for •alterations. Tributes were paid to those good workers who had given their time and labour in changing the interior into one of the •most, attrac>tive library rooms in the district. The old brown walls are painted cream. The large window. in . the front has oeen left completely free so that people ean see from : the street, and even from • the railway station,, the attractive displays. of books inside. Two small v tables and some chairs have been provided for the reading of periodicals and books. The snelves round the wall have been altered so that all fhe books can easily be seen without any stooping or stretehing. It had involved much work, but if the citizens of Shannon appreciated it, those responsible would feel justified, .said the cnairman of the library committee, Mr. Norris. Changes in service: Shannon people will have a wider range of books than has been shown in the past. The library has afiiliated with 'the Country Library Service and has already received its first collection of books. . These will be changed every four months when the book van calls. Books for everyone: The aim is to provide books for every interest. There are books on gardening, cooking, dressmaking, theatre, ballet, and art, science, architecture, hobbies and crafts. These, it is pointed out, are just a few of those which are available. ; The request service: People are •encouraged to use the request service to qbtain the books they want but which do not happen to be in the library at the time they ask. This is automatic. A card is sent out to the Country Library ' Service from the library and the books eorne through the post, whether the request has been for the best •way to make loose eavers, how to build a radio, or for a book on qjNESCO! It is a general collection specially chosen for younger people.

Rental section: The free collection, however, cannot supply light fiction, or it would soon become unwieidy. Following the practice iof other otherwise ' free libraries, fhe Shannon Public' Library has started a rental collection to look after the supply of popular western, detective and romance tnovels. All the books of -.tliis section are clearly labelled and they dre borrowed at a charge of 6d for the new books and 3d for the older 'ones. Money received from rental will be used to buy more. books. Membership: • All residepts and: ratepayers in Shannon Borough are entitled to free membership. People living outside the borough tmay join for 5s a.year to have the Isame borrowing ; privileges as borough members. This subscnp-, tion has purposely been kept low las country members will contmue; to pay for books borrowed from the rental section. General: Books are lent for twotweeks. As the book collectioii is bmall, however, readers are • asked to be quite prompt in returning books. In addition to.-the subject trequests, people can ask for spebial books by - author and tit.ie. Free fiction: All the subject books are free, and in ada. tion there is a collection of free fiction. This fiction collection has books Which are of some valus, svch as translations from foreign authors. ' Special collections: In adcution to this, the library will receive special loans of books for two toonths at a time. The library 'may laler have 40 or1 50. books on gardening, or a, collection on child care, diet, health and so on, 'or perhaps 50 or 60 on one ^ particular country- It is hoped tnat a special service will be given to societies and groups in the cown. It will be possible to have a collection of books on hobbies 3-ud ■crafts displayed at the meeting of the Women's Institute. The hrst of these collections has already been put on the shelves. . ... . Library hours:— The library will be open as f-ollows: Monday, 2 to '4 p.m.; Tuesday, 2 to 4 p.m., 7 to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 3 to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 2 to 4 p.m.; Friday* 3 to 4 p.m.. 6 to 8 p.m.