Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1.1, 1889. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY.

Manawatu Herald, 15 October 1889, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1.1, 1889. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY.

There arises ..each, session, a long disjussion as to the powers to be given to the recess committee of the Library attached to the Houses of Parliamei.it. -This session is no ex ' coption to the rule, and i.'»any harsh things have boon said about the Wellington public with reference to their, desire to "sponge" on the Government Library, instead of supporting one of their own. We have had some little experience in working public libwiintts, .and appreciate to the full tho difficulty .of obtaining persons disinterested enough to give their, time to" a. proper control of such an institution, and wo have arrived at, before now> the conclusion that no library is successful, unless it is worked in contraction with some public body. • We do feel that the city of Welington has laid itself open. to styong remarks, by not having had years ago a free public library, supported by the City Council, aud there is very little doubt that there is much truth in the statement that the General / ssembly Library, being : within r^ach of tli? wealthier c asseSj has provonted these persons putting their inun y and their services at the assistance of their poorer brethren. But ns the Libmrv lyis-come tip .fur wiow, we have ventured to give ouiyopiuitm as to how the same; mighfi be., worked f r the good of all. The Colony is finding the money for the purchase of books also for the housing of them, and it cannon be said that the taxpayers have no invest them.

li, no doubt, it is necessary to p, ovide for our ro resentatives, not only works of .reference, hut also lighter Wo h, by wineh 1 the'ir 1 «*#-. tiniis for the godd of the Colony mn v v he eased; still the o remain uiany other persons iii Wellington, city and country, and a. so in 1 tile colony, td wlidnY the use of those books would bo both useful and p ertsin^. It seouis a very se fish policy for those, tho metn.be>*, tfho 1 can at all timed onjoy^tlio library, to draw hard and fast rules against others lieing it, as tlte pdotf eicuse about the cost of supervising t^e delivery of books to outsiders could oflsily be disposed of. We are situated hove, out afreneh of the library, but for all that We hold it to "bo till important possession of the oo'ony, and as our money is expended in at, we hnVo> as mucli right to. it. as those who are uitr legislators. "SVa enrtnof. understand why the city of Wellington uouhl not work the library in conjunction with the Assembly, and if the City « ouncil wero.to pay to the Library Committee, out of the Public library rate which they should ralsf, a cor am sum for the use of pa.it of the library building for a public reading room, and nfao fifty a portion ■of the e-.tra expense for attendance occasioned by a larger number ■using the room, and also an annual snm towards the purchase of new books, the city would bo assisting the Oeneral Assembly, ami the ("inneral Assembly the city. If, and wo hold for the successful use.of-a library it must be, persons are allowed to take books out to read, then let those pay a guinea a year per volume for the privilege, excepting works of reference, which have t o right to leave the building. By some such arrangement the city would obtain the use of a magnificent library, and the colonists wou'd also participate in the advantage, and the present reasons that stop a free public library in Wellington would bo swept away.