THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10, 1913. PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 10 December 1913, Page 2

THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10, 1913. PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Nkgotiahtions have advanced a further stage in connection "with the proposal for the Town Board to take control of the Public 'Library, and wo understand the decision arrived at the other evening was to hand over the institution providing the Board will undertake to provide a sura of £26 per annum for its upkeep. This sum could doubtless be taken from the general rate revenue and allocated to the library as subsidy, but we learn that the scheme is to raise the amount by extra rate. On the present rating this sum of <£2o would be realised by the small

rate of one-twelvth of a penny in tho <£, which to most ratepayers means a very small sum in the way of extra payment. Tho advantages that will accrue from such expenditure are very substantial and calculated to benefit the entire community, while injuring nobody. .Few indeed of the ratepayers will begrudge the payment of a small snm annually to have a woll-kept aud up-to-date library in the town. The establishing of a properly equipped library will confer tremendous educational benefits upon the people of this district and will prove' a valuable asset to the town. Under the present system the lending department of the library is the only one that gets attention. Newspapers and periodicals are unread 'because the institution is not opened as a reading room, as should be the c.^se. To sum the matter up brieiiy we consider the estimated expenditure of £26 to put the library on a good footing will be money well spent ) but it is more than likely that such a sum would not be necessary, as there would certainly be more subscribers if the library were placed on n better footing" than at present.