BOOKS FOR THE PEOPLE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1442, 17 May 1912, Page 5

BOOKS FOR THE PEOPLE

TO MAKE LIBRARIES MORE USEFUL

'COMMISSION SYSTEM,

The Minister for Education (Hon. J. A. Hnnan) gave a sympathetic leply to a deputation representing the recent Libraries Conference. The deputation, which met tho Minister yesterday morning, consistr ed of Messrs. D. M'Liiren (Mavor of Wellington), A. K. Atkinson, T. W. Leys, Lowe, and H. Baillin, and was introduced by Mr. A. H. Jlindnmrsh, M.P. Mr. Atkinson said the conference desired particularly to bring under the notice of the Minister, tho question of school and country libraries. They thought that the sum of .£3OOO or .£4OOO voted for libraries could bo better expended if a Library Commission' was entrusted with the disposal. The conference also thought that there should be a library in every school where there was a reasonable number of children.

Mr. Leys said the commission system had been found to work well in twentysix States in America. The school as well as country libraries should be administered' by the commission. A system of travelling libraries could be established such as was now in vogue in Australia, and witli a good organiser the system could, with the aid of the Education Bonrds, bo well worked by such a commission as the' conference proposed. The cost of the commission would not be greatMr. Lowe, on behalf of the Educational Institute, said they felt that something should be done to get good literature into the hands of country school children. Mr. G. Hogben, Inspector-General of Schools, said that the Hon. G. Fowlds, when Minister for Education, had promised to consider- the question. The educational authorities would, he was sure, do all they could on behalf of school libraries, but in the towns it was necessary that there should be co-operation between the library authorities nnd the school libraries. The Department already supplied information to teachers in regard to the selection of books, and lent books to teachers, so as to assist them in the selection. The machinery now in the Department could easily bo used for the purpose required by the deputation, as far as school libraries' .wero concerned. The real trouble in. regard to" country travelling libraries was the cost of conveyance from one place to another, but ho did not think that should be an insuperable obstacle. Mr. M'Laren said the Wellington City Council considered that the selection of good reading for the young was of great importance, and a work in which they should have the assistance of the General Government. The Clyde Quay School had asked the council to supply it with books which might be used in connection with the classes, and 340 books had been sent, for classes from- the third to the sixth standard. By methods of that kind the teacher was able to guide and assist the children in their readings. Applications would come frsnv other schools for similar .assistance, which the council was disposed to give,, but they wanted the Minister to recognise that this was part of the work of education, and that it should bo subsidised by the Government, not only in Wellington, ,but wherever it was in operation.

The Minister,-.in reply, said the Government desired to secure the education of the democracy, and he appreciated very much the efforts of the conference, ospeciallj- in regard to country libraries. The positioner, present was not satisfactory. There was no doubt that commissions like that proposed by the conference had done valuable work in other countries, but he believed tho existing system here could be improved. There was also tho question of expense to be considered. A large amount was already being spent on education, and claims for more expenditure were being made. Primary education was the first necessity; that assured, they could proceed further. He would go into the whole matter, and, he hoped, make representations to Cabinet.