THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1929, 30 April 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1880.

At the last meeting of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, attention was drawn to the fact that the London agent had not been carrying out in a satisfactory manner the standing order for the supply of books to the library each month, some of the books received being two or three years old. Mr. Montgomery remarked that the committee had already hadthismatterunder their consideration. Wo feel confident that the public at large, at least those who subscribe to the Library, will fully endorse the remark made by the gentleman who opened up the subject. The supply of books is not such as should be expected for a large public institution. But does the fault solely lie with the London agent ? We think not. It may be true enough that he does not keep up with the times in his orders to the publishers, but are his instructions without fault ? Now let us give a solitary instance. There are upwards of a thousand subscribers to the Library—loso is, we believe, the exact number—and yet when a new and popular book is ordered, it is usual to purchase but a single copy! What chancehave the bulk of readers of over getting hold of this particular book. They might as well try to catch a live moa. But, it may be argued, want of funds prevents more than one copy being bought. Nothing of the sort. Any number of the most trashy novels accompany the desirable book. " Priscilla's Revenge," " The Snooks of Snooks Hall," and such like are poured on to the shelves of the Library till the place reeks of twaddle and diluted sentiment. Looking ovor a now importation of books is like gold digging, The amount of valuable matter to be discovered is but small when compared with the wash dirt that is worso than useless. But oven this does not represent the worst of the case. The manner in which the records of the institution are kept is such that is impossible to find out how long a book has been out, or when it is likely to return. Consequently it is quite useless to make any arrangeinonts for applying at tho Library when it may happen to bo brought back. This is not a charge in any way against the efficiency of the staff employed at the Library. The public are aware that they are painstaking and hard working. But some slight

assistance should be given them towards keeping a more perfect set of books. By keeping another book in which the name of each particular bosk would be entered under its own heading, it would be possible to at once ascertain where it was and when it might bo expected to be returned. At present there is no means of knowing what has become of any particular volume. The information to be gained on inquiry is of the most shadowy character, and old frequenters have long ago given up in despair any attempt in that direction. But then again the matter of expense will be thrown in the teeth of the would-be reformer. But after all what is wanted is so little. A lad to whom this affair might be handed, and who might make himself useful in other ways would be the only assistance required. The library committee might surely strain a point in this respect. They might pity the groans of the 1050 subscribers ranging aimlessly along the shelves in hopeless bewilderment.

There is also a matter connected with the Reference Library which it would bo well far the Committee to consider. Why should it be closed at 9 p.m. when tho public Reading-room is not closed till 10 p.m. Take the case of a man who is at work or in his office all day. He dines or has tea, say, at 6.30, and is very unlikely to get down to tho Reference-room before half-past seven or eight. And yet he has to depart at nine. He might just as well not to go at all. All who know anything of the subject are aware that in a single hour a reader can hardly do more than warm to his subject. It is not as if keeping the room open to 10 p.m. would be keeping tho staff up. Somebody has to remain to shut up the reading room, and he might just as well close the reference room at the same time. The library might close at the same time as at present, but to the uninitiated it is hard to see the link that binds it so closely to the reading room, except, indeed, that one has to pass through the former to got at the latter, Finally, with regard to tho reading room. Presumably it is impossible to make it as comfortablo as a room not open to the public, more particularly as the space is but limited. But surely some further attention might be paid to warming and ventilation. It is the author of the " Autocrat of the Breakfast Table" that in sketching out an ideal library says that it should be a room in which there should bo nothing to distract the attention, and where the temperature should be neither hot nor cold. Ho suggests that if it were possible to get into a large egg the half-luminous light, the rotundity and unabsorbing nature of the surroundings, mentally speaking, would exactly come up to his ideal standard. The public reading-room may resemble an egg, but the committee might endeavour to keep it rather fresher. A want of oxygen is net absolutely essential towards the proper assimilation of sound political and social views. We do trust that the Library Committee will rouse themselves with regard to the general management of the institution. We may fairly say that the public are not well satisfied with the manner injwhich affairs are at present conducted.