THE GLOBE. MONDAY, MAY 16, 1881. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2251, 16 May 1881, Page 1

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, MAY 16, 1881. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

What everybody says must be true. At least it is reasonable to assume that a statement, supported by a remarkable unanimity of opinion, must possess more tban an average degree of accuracy. 1 herefore, when a considerable majority of those interested agree in finding fault, one way or another, with our Public Library as at present constituted, it may fairly be stated that there is something radically wrong with the management of that institution. This is like starting with the evidence before reading the charge, but, as a matter of fact, it is only too well known by'a large number of persons using the Library that the management has been for a long time past utterly bad—a term used advisedly, including, as it does, the sins of omission and commissien of which the managing committee have been guilty. Many years ago, before the grant of books from the old Provincial Council library was made, a different system of control prevailed, which was found to be ineffective. A change was made, accordingly, when the grant in question was conferred, and a small endowment was also placed to the credit of the institution, which was thereafter administered by that remarkable body known as the Board of Governors. Since then the Library has been a greater success than formerly, but this has been due solely to the improvement in the Library itself, and the increased resources bestowed upon it by a benevolent government. The management has never been good, and, in the light of our social progress, has appeared to deteriorate year by year. "Whilst the City of Christchurch has advanced very rapidly, and the requirements of its inhabitants have increased in a proportionate degree, the management of the Library has tortoise-like been jogging along with much self-complacency, peculiar to " old-fogeydom," at a pace quite inadequate to the demands of society. The Library is a public institution, worked by a body who think nothing of the public whatever, but make up for such want of consideration,*probably, by thinking an immense amount of themselves.' The same experience may have been noticed in connection with other •affairs of general public interest, where a select few of the ripe old crusty sort become bound together, and, being dressed in a little brief authority, " play such fantastic tricks before high Heaven" as make their fellow-men stare with wonder, or weep with vexation. But to discuss one evil at a time is sufficient, and we propose to confine ourselves on the present occasion to this very ancient sore, the management of the Library. As stated above, the Committee do not appear to recognise the fact that they are dealing with public funds in administering their trust, as is shown most clearly by the fact that they pay no attention whatever to the repeated suggestions which have been made for securing greater public convenience in many ways. Nor do they seem to regard the fact that the subscribers to the Library are entitled to be looked upon, in a great measure, as the proprietors of it, seeing that the income the Committee have to work on is chiefly contributed, if we mistake not, by the subscribers, and tho system of ignoring the authority or claims of

subscribers accrues from a studious neglect to conduct the institution in a manner best calculated to give them the worth of the money they pay for their membership. It would not be difficult to onrimorate a long list of grievances, starting with the effects of a pig-headed consorvatism respecting the internal arrangements of the circulating department, which have been established in accordance with certain old-fashioned and explodod ideas of a generation back, as witness the extraordinary literary production which is, forsooth, called a catalogue, and which would prove of equal practical benefit if regarded as a dictionary. But it is needless to go into minute details, even if space permitted. Let us tako one or two instances of this lofty disregard of the public comfort and convenience. Some time since, the Committee, finding themselves short of funds, decided to raise the subscription to a considerable extent, and this was done accordingly. Now this alteration, considered by itself, was reasonable enough. The Library, as such, is one of the best in New Zealand, and the rate of subscription is by no means too high, considering the advantages to be derived from such an institution, all other things being equal. But, unfortunately, the Library Committee, by their administration of the extra funds thus placed at their disposal, do not justify their action in raising the fees. The public naturally look for advantages commensurate with the increased demand made on their pockets, and those advantages are not forthcoming. LoDg prior to the change alluded to, complaints were made—first, that no new books were obtainable from the circulating department until long after every stationer in town was supplied with them and, secondly,

that large Earns were expended in providing an utterly useless class of works tor the reference department, And now that the rate of subscription lias been raised, the same state of things is more I glaringly apparent. The result of this | mal-administration is, that, to a largo section of the reading public, the Library | is little better than useless. To make I this more clear, we will explain. The I subscription to the Library is of an allround character—that is to say, one pays so much per quarter, and has access to all parts of the building, after observing certain forms instituted for the security of the property. (In this respect the regulations are different from those obtaining in certain other towns, but wo are not prepared to say that the principle is not well grounded). Now a largo number of persons who subscribe to the Library patronise the circulating department only, and do not, possibly, make use of the reference room once in six months, perhaps never. Therefore, if this class of subscribers cannot obtain what they need, and have a right to expect, in the circulating department, thoy pay too dearly for their whistle, whatever the price may be ; and this argument is obviously strengthened when that price has been raised. And this is protty nearly the position which the Committee have brought about. In the last shipment from Home, costing probably several hundred pounds, none of the very latest works of eminent authors are to be found, although such works are in the hands of our local booksellers. This remark applies to the department of fiction, and, as to the quality of the works of reference introduced, we think the old complaint of inutility is by no means exploded. It will be seen, therefore, that one of the principal functions of & library, namely, to supply current literature as the demand for it arises, is almost entirely overlooked by the management of the Library, and this is a very serious cause of complaint; whilst a considerable amount of public money appears to be absolutely wasted. There are other drawbacks in connection with the Public Library, but these are almost inseparable from the present management, even though the Committee did their work in the most efficient manner. For instance, the present arrangement of dividing the departmental work is open to objection. The head man of the concern is Mr. Steadman, whose other official duties are important, and claim the greater part of his attention ; so that he sees less of the Library, in fact, than many ordinary subscribers; and under him is a gentleman who does all the practical work, but without occupying the position, or having any real authority. But, as we have indicated, there are reasons why this arrangement may be the best under present circumstances, that is, whilst the control of the institution is vested in the Board of Governors, which wo trust may not be the case for any considerable time longer. Meanwhile, the Committee of Management may do much in the way of improvement. Indeed, such is imperatively demanded of them. We are fully aware that there are certain members of the Board of Governors who affect to treat with indifference the utterances of the Press; but we know, also, that those gentlemen are usually the most troubled by public comment on their actions as representatives of the people. Be that as it may, however, we do not for a moment stop to consider the sentiments of such individuals, and we have approached this subject from a plain sense of public duty. We may have occasion to refer to it again, but we now leave it, in the hope that what we have written may be productive of some slight amount of good.