WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 140, 14 May 1940, Page 8

WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

PUBLIC LIBRARY. The annual meeting of subscribers to the Woodville library was held last night, the Mayor (Mr It. It. Johnston) presiding. The secretary (Miss B. Gothard) stated in her annual report that the number of subscribers stood ;at 119 (borough IU4, county 15); as against 121 in the previous year. During the year 118 books had been placed on the shelves compared with 97 last year. Country Library Servipe books totalling 1(12 had been put into circulation. Over the three l'our-monthly periods 457 books' 1 had been exchanged from the van in addition to which Country Library Service magazines were received monthly and .placed in the lending department. Thanks were extended to Mesdames Swift and Munro, Messrs A. H. Hustwick, D. Keay, Deventor and llev. W. H. Nicholas for books and magazines and to the Woodville County Council for its grant of £5. Bates collected were £44 18s 8d more than in the previous year; and subscriptions £8 7s 2d more while sales of books and magazines realised £2 19s 7d less. The debit balance as at April 1, 1939, had been transferred to the general account. The ■ balance-sheet presented by the borough treasurer (Mr D. Keay) revealed that the year .commenced with a debit of £54 3s lOd and concluded with a credit of £lB 4s 7d. The total expenditure was 1 £l2O 4s sd, as against £IOB 5s 7d for 1938-39. Moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the Mayor said the year had been quite successful financially, a decided improvement having been effected by the new system introduced with the advent of the Country Library Service. The revenue was quite satisfactory', while the library was able to offer a much better selection of books. Gratification was also expressed by Mr H. P. Horne, in seconding the resolution. Mi’ss B. Gothard and Messrs T. S. R. Schaw and H. P. Horne were unanimously re-elected to represent the subscribers on the library committee. The ret.ring secretary (Miss Gothard) was accorded a vote of thanks for her services, the Mayor paying a tribute to her continued enthusiastic interest in library affairs. Votes of thanks were also accorded the librarian (Mrs Spackman) and the Borough Council for its action in transferring the debit balance from the previous year to the genera] account. The question of incorporating a rental section in the library' evoked some discussion and it was resolved on the motion of Messrs D. Keay and the May'or, that it be a recommendation to the incoming committee to introduce a rental section in the library. . At a subsequent meeting of the newdy-elected committee, there v'erc present Messrs Johnston (in the chair), Schaw, H. P. Horne, Crs. A. Olsson and E. J. Harding and Miss Gothard. The last-named was re-elect-ed secretary. Opinion was divided with regard to the appointment of a selection committee. The Mayor mov ed, and it was seconded by Ct. Harding, that last year’s selection committee (Messrs Horne, Schaw and the secretary) be re-elect.ed. Mr Schaw moved, as an amendment, that all library committee members constitute the selection committee. This latter proposal, however, was considered by the majority of members to be impracticable and the amendment lapsed for want of a seconder, tho motion being carried. Mr Horne said he considered the value of the present magazine service did not warrant its | retention. His motion that it be discontinued was seconded by the secretary and carried. On the motion of Cr Harding and Mr Horne, it was decided to retain membership of the Libraries’ Association, Mr Horne suggesting that an effort be made to send a delegate to the annual conference this year'. After a brief discussion on the recommendation that a rental section be commenced, it u'as resolved, on the motion of Cr. Harding and Mr Schaw, that the proposal be adopted and that the committee spend £ls on books in order to put the system into operation. The matter of providing satisfactory lighting outside tho library building was referred to the Borough Council. A number of old books are to be sold, the proceeds to go to the patriotic funds. Application is to be made to the County Council for a donation to the committee funds.