FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Hokitika Guardian, 4 June 1925, Page 4

FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

A public meeting el' subscribers to the above was held in tin- Magazine Bonin -■i tin- Library <>n Tuesday night. Mr 11. M. ('oiil.si.it (Chairman of the Librare Committee) presided.

In opening the meeting the Chair man relcrred to liie stale ol the tin ame.s which were-salisl'aetory. there be

iug a -,-n-ilit liakuuc "l over £BO. l-'oi-i!iai- nest-egg and for the amount <>f work put into the internal organisation of the Library and Museum, the e-immunity bad to thank Mr G. A. Wood, the retiring C hairman of the

Committee. Mr CotlUon went on to say that the Borough Council had spent a considerable sum in attention to the exterior of tiq. building, now in good erd-. r. and thanks to the liberality of the Hokitika Saunas Bank tlu-re was a substantial .slim available for internal renovation. This work was in hand, and m the iniirsc ol a few weeks it wa.s Imped tile) would all be 1 lease.l with tin.- overhaul. As regards the innduet of the Library, it was hoped to see tin- number of subscribers no Teased, and a campaign might- be undertaken to that end. It was intended to ask the meeting to set up it Selection Committee and procure regular Mtpplic., ol new book: ; ul:..n, that a eimgcstion book be opened with tinI ■■'■! -I : I a>(. l in 1; noted for tin- I-,ll'idei alioo of lie- Committee. Mr \V. Wilson, as an old subscriber, detailed what had been done in the past, and thought that policy migliL be reined, lie .suggested subscribing t.i iln- i iiiu-s Book l lob. Mr . V, . .Mnliini’v pointed out there was suggestion book in l lie Library, but so far the .suggestions were not taken into in i omit. Mr I). .). Evans suggested tlial now that a Hew (oliiuiillee li.-u! been a; pointed l.\ the Borough Couin il. a irc .li start, be made, and a deliuili- policy followed. He approved the e-lnpaigii tor more members, but it would lie noi usury In slock more books. lie moved Messrs,). \Y. .Morris, \Y. Wilson J. Xiven. .). W. Maloney an.l N. J. 'lrwin he tin- .s.-leotioit I’ummitlee associated with tin- Library Coinmittee in an advisory (aj neit v. Mr T. W.

I lilif st-eiiuded. t arneil. Mr F ans ilmugbi something idioiild i-e done lor tile inveiiiles and sllggesled ;i Reading < !11 b if Messrs Niven and Maloney would take the mutter up.

Mr Xiven said In- had in mind the filling up ul t lie back room as a reading room for juveniles v, here the literature lor tin- poling tolk i.m1.1 be kepi.

A di.seii-.si.ii billowed in regard to the se!e,tii.it of honk., in wliieli Messrs 11. <;. b. Coles, \Y. 11. Shannon. \Y. koiley and other.-, took part, in widen preference was expressed for various classes ol hooks and authors. I' innlly the matter was referred to the .special commit tee appnin t ml. In regard to subscription rates, it was resolved to secure as many sub-

scribers as possible at Cl per annum, each present subscriber being asked to secure another. The subscription for juveniles was lisod at os. With regard to the Museum Room which in common with tile rest of the interior was to ho renovated, the Chairman moved that Messrs Kvjins (Chairman) Niven mid Dr. Teiclielniann be a sub-commit tee to direct the* rearrangement of the room and the exhibits. when same may he restored for exhibition purposes. -Mr Duff seconded. Carried.

At a meeting of the Committee held subsequently, tit. was resolved that meetings he held on the first Tuesday in each month; that one year’s sub seripiion lie forwarded to the Times Rook Club; that enquiry lie made for late book catalogues and supply rates: that the books on the shelves lie overhauled. and surplus or duplicated books be offered for sale to the country libraries at clearance prices; and that parcels he supplied to the hospitals.