CORRESPONDENCE.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 45, 17 April 1930, Page 10

CORRESPONDENCE.

OUR MUNICIPAL I3BBARY.

(To tiie Editor.) . . Sir,—Will you give me space in your columns for a few words with, regard

to our Municipal Library. In a con versatiori I recently had with the manager of the "Hutt News Company" I learned that when the venture was first started some three years ago, the circulation was about 1700, whieii num.-. ber allowed a copy for delivery by post' to every lhouse in the borough. By leaps and bounds our population lias increased, until to-day it requires an issue of 4,000 to enable, the postmen to deliver to every house a copy of what must be admitted is a bright and up-to-date little journal of a purely local character. Now, with 4,ooo^Jiouses, and allowing an average of four to each household, a small average 'f or this healthful suburb—we have a population of 16,000, of whom not less than iaalf will be of an age to read, and this pereefltuage is certainly, on the'low side. I understand that the number of subscribers to the Municipal Library is under 400. But let us put the number householders at 4,000 and the number of-library subscribers at 400, jand consider w3iy there should be this disparity. The residents of the borough aTe of a - distinctly superior and well educated class;- they evince a interest in all current topics of the day; take a deep interest in local gov- ■ eminent matter; have strong political opinion, and it would be the grossest of Jibels to say that ours is an illiterate community. And yet the membership of out Municipal Library, at a very reasonable annual subscription,, is distinctly insignificant. Why' is I>his? Any person, firm, company, or corporation that endeavours to carry on business, and ignores the necessity of pmblidty and advertisement is foredoomed to failurej and this, apparently, is where the Council and its Library Committee has failed. What publicity or advertisement has b.een in the past

given to OUT Municipal. Library? Little, if any at all, and I venture to state that there are scores, if not hundreds, of our local, residents, possibly new:

! comers to the Hutt, wiho are absolutelyunaware of ,its existence. Why should they know?/ iaow jcaii they know* 'Where is it? WhatVoi rt of > library is it to belong -tp? Tiese three identical questions were put tome by a recently arrived resident of; .literary tastes, and t-here are certainly-inany others in like case. If a tihing is /worth doing, it is worth doing -well. Our borough has a good library, but what steps has the Council taken 'to let its burgesses (particularly newcomers) know that such is the case? Mr. Mayor and Councillors., remember this that trying to carry on business without .publicity is like winking at a pretty girl in the dark— you know you're doing it, but she does riot!

I wish' to make it clear that in my opinion the-Hutt Borough has a good library, ; and it is a pity more people do not know of its existence and take ad-

vantage of it. It is true that a proportion, of the -v6luin.es on the shelves arc approaching the state when they may be described as "antique and curiously

carved," but on t«l*te other hand there is a constant stream; of new and well selected books being purchased and added to what is quite a fair collection of up-to-date books being ■ jmrchased and added to what is quite a fair collection of up^to-date fiction. In-these days of handsome Carnegie Libraries and 'othersimilar costly buildings the housing'of our local library is hardly to be'termed "up-to-date," but. given increasedmembership, and" more interest in t&e institution, and that can be soon altered. Speaking from experience and from the comments -of those who already usethe library I can testify to the capacity and unfailing courtesy of the librarian, Mrs, Burnltey, who I am sure (though I •have'not mentioned the matter to h*er) would be pfeased to welcome visitors, particularly intending subscribers, if they will call. Meanwihile may I again impress on "the powers that be" the futility on "the powers that'^e" the the dark. —I am-etc., ;

GEO. GIELING-BUTCEEER, Bridge St., Lower Huttf, .