PAEROA PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4577, 20 June 1923, Page 2

PAEROA PUBLIC LIBRARY.

annual meeting. The annual meeting of the Paeroa Public Library was held in the reading room on Saturday evening last. Mr S. J. Bishop presided over a fair attendance of subscribers. An apology for absence was tendered on behalf of Mr W. D. Nicholas. The balance-sheet showed a small credit balance. The annual report was presented as follows: — “Your Committee begs-to present the 39th annual report and balancesheet for the consideration of subscribers. During the year we have added 115 new books to the library, including, besides fiction, children’s section, travels, history, and philosophy. About 40 books have had to be. discarded owing to wear, and tear. . but in some instances to carelessness on the part of the borrowers. We finished the year with a very small credit balance, our funds being rather straitened owing to receiving no Government subsidy, the money received from subscribers not being sufficient to meet all expenses. “We regret that our .librarian *is leaving us at the end of the present month, she having been with us forever three years. We beg to place on record cur appreciation of her services. The position -has; been advertised for, and it will be the duty of your Committee this’ evening to ap~ point her succsesor. “The thanks of the Committee are due to those who have presented newspapers and magazines to the reading room; also to Mr Blakeway for his services as auditor.” < ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: , Chairman, Mr S. J._ Bishop ; secretary and treasurer, Mrs A. Thorp: auditor, Mr C. N. O’Neill; committee, Miss Shaw, Messrs W. D. Nicholas, ,D. Leach, W. H. Blakeway, W. L. Lawrence (Paeroa), J. A. Reid (Netherton), and W. F. Johnstone (Rotokohu). • MEETINGS. It was decided to hold regular bimonthly committee meetings, on the 1 first Friday evening. SET .ECTTON COMMITTEE. ' A sub-committee pf three members;, with the chairman and secretary exofficio, was set up as a selection committee. A suggestion book is also to be placed in the library, and the public will be asked to place therein practical suggestions as to improvements, books, etc. These matters Will then receive the selection committee s. attention at each meeting. LIBRARIAN. There were five applications received for the position of librarian, that of Mrs C. Halliday being accepted subject to the duties being taken up on August 1. - MEMBERSHIP. The membership this year had decreased by nine. It was suggested that an active campaign should be commenced with a view to obtaining new members. NEW BOOKS. A sub-committ.ee, consisting of th? chairman, secretary, and Messrs W. D. Nicholas, D. Leach, and W. I* Lawrence, to arrange a campaign co solicit support from the public, ant) also to endeavour to secure donations of disused books from people. Owing to the withdrawal of the Government subsidy the finances of the library have been considerably reduced and to enable new books -to be obtained the generous support of the public is to be asked for. The Chamber of Commerce and Borough Council are also to be asked to support the committee in its efforts. LIBRARY HOURS. : Some discussion as to the hours of the reading room took place. Finally it was decided that the reading room should be -open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.,. Sundays ex? cepted. Should the loss of papers and periodicals become too heavy, or the privilege of having the convenience of the reading room open daily be ed, the committee has the right to close the reading room without further notice. The hours of the lending departr ment of the library are to remain as at present t’DESTRUCTION OF BOOKS. ’ The action of one of the subscribe ers. who borrowed two'books from the library, and, after reading the books, burned them without authority from, or reference to, the committee, was strongly condemned, and it was decided that the subscriber concerned should be" asked to return copies of the books destroyed, or the value of them, within one week. SUBSCRIPTIONS. It was decided that the subscription should not be increased this year, as it was considered that the commit- - tee would be able to carry on if the intended campaign for new members and additional books should be at All successful.