THE OTAKI LIBRARY.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 14, 18 December 1878, Page 2

THE OTAKI LIBRARY.

TO THE BDltd^--. V Sic,—-" A Poor Working Man;" who, under different norn de plume, has been hiding forth for some time past upon . other matters, has at length' thou^t proper' to fall foul of the new rules , adopted at a meeting of members of the Ofcaki, Library, and so to misrepresent these rules a* to convey an entirely erroneous impression of their meaning. I cannot attempt 1o go, all through " P. W. M.'s " letter, as it would involve making corrections m almost- every Hnej but will make my remarks upon it as short as possible, only premising that tlie opinion of seven or eight members — to take his own figures, though they are incorrect — n» opposed to two, ou?ht to fo&ya raised do-ibts m fch.e miad of even

''-"> w4f.l self-opiuionated person as to ' the soundness of his own interpretation of the rules m question. It will be see i. that under the old rules the subcri >tton was — three months, 3s, plus enhance fee, 2s 6d— ss 6d ; six do., 63, pht t do. do., do. — 8s 6d ; twelve do., 13s, jjcks do. do., do.— l4s 6d. Under the new rules the subscription is for three, six, and twelve months— 3s 6d, 6s, and 10s respectively,— so that m each instance "P.W.M." is a considerable gainer by the change. The result of members having been allowed books when m arrears with their subscriptions is that many of them have had the use of the Library for months, and m the end paid nothing. Books* are to > bY taken but, ' under the new rules, for not more than 14 days m ihe first jhatahce, but to say that members are restricted tp that term, is simply untrue— ras m other libraries a wprk gan b,e renewed at the end' of that time for another 14 days at the discretion of the librarian ; and so pn fpr 12 mpriths, or, more, if not m the me^time 'requited by anotHer subscriber/ The papers and pamphlets can be taken put also ali t^Q discretion of the librarian. Though it wa? cbnsidered unpe.ce?sary to insert a rule to that effect.'iti was perfectly understopd by all: present at tlie meeting, at which the. new yules were confirmed, that friends of members, pr strangers might be introduced, and obtain works thrptigh subscribers,. ■ The bid .rule J^To -7 wa« cut out as useless, the Librarian stating that it had not once been taken advantage of. No. 13 (pld^wajs abo> lished, as it could not. be. jenforcipd.: Dbtihtless. the present 1 r^les ,migh^ be amplified and improyed,- but the remedy is iii the hp,nds of members, /and must 1 come from within. Rushing" info print,; and writing; "smalUbeer clitpnicles"" to answer or-' cjpnfuse the public^ is not the way 'to go ,to work. " Cine Wor.d inqre^ The new; rules^ wei;e not adopted 1 beqause they are considered to be mpre "liberal"— as ?.W.M. |opl|shly argues— though they reaUy are to go to an unpreiuijiced mind, but becapise they would 1 bring more funds : t6 the library, aiid l>y that " means, benefit subscribers; His J :twaddld iapput ; ridh"y. poor'is altpg^elher beside ; the mark^--" a pppr r ' lpaf er," '* a ppor drunkard," 14 "a^ poor' crippte," are understandable terms. "A ' J^por forking Man," is alfogether "an ; v anomaly here, and likely to be so fqi^ 1 a number of. years to come. If, Sir, you can find space for the enclosed copy of former and. present rules of ithe ilibraryy you will isavo fuirthei 'discussion, and greatly pblifae ypu'r obedient scsryant,!' 1 : ".; '? l '/ ■>■'■ ':'&. MiEMBBB PF,T4fi.LIBBABy. I

p JiD BtFLES ■iSI)..! HEGULATIONS QF-- TB[E OTlil IIBJ&AB?. ' . L TheJfye&dingT&bom to be open on Tuesday and Saturday evenings to the members,, from half -past sevea k till' not lafcer than ten 6'clbolc. 2 V Members to pay a. monthly sub soription of one shilling, which mll.entifcle them to the use of the 'J^VacUiig Room and Library. \ v * ' • ; 3. Any member regaining a» book longer than one " iuqntlv shalt p^ay ■.sixpence extra, . ' '■■...' n . ■ Any ihember, re^jUrning a book torn, or otherwise .datna.sjte'd, shall pay the ralue of the- said book.. : ' ;'. "5. Auy member reading or talking aloud, -or pther«fise:vm|erruptiiig_ : '(sther-: -members. to be • fined the suui of. phe smiling fo.r each offence. 6. All .'subscriptions and fines '.to, be appropriated; to the benefit pi f he liir brary. ' "^ ' ' ■"--. 1. Any non-momber wishing; to borrow a book from the Library shall deposit the full, value' of the said VookV 1 ' " 8. 1 No member 'shall remore-a ny book, paper, or other article from the Heading Boom without the knowlejjlge and consent of -'the Librariaaf " '"\ 9. A certain povtion of each evening may, by unanimous consent of the meiiibers present, be devbtedv to' recitation or part singing. ' : .. ;■":"■: . ' . \ " 10. All persons joining the Library after April 29th, 1874, .jhall. pay an entrance fee of not less than 25 6 d." "11. The newspapers ; miiy.be taken v out by any member m the same way as the books, after thejs have beeh a week m tho Library. ' ; : ■. ; 12. Any member falling more tjhan thr f ee nionths m arrears shall . bfe Hable. to have' his supply cf books stopped, until he is again cle v ar on thfe books. .13. Any person pending/ a Library book to a person whqi.s'not' a member tin be liable to a. fine of 2s ' fiH. or; on refusing to pay it, to be; excelled from the. Library. ' : „■"•

NEW" BtfLES ANT> BT?GtrtAT%plf3 PJ?; Tffß OTAKI LIBBABT. I. The Reading liopua- to be open onTuesdays and Saturdays", between the hours of hal fc-past se^eu and /ten p>m. Only members admitted. v ' "2. Any member, retaining a bookraore than fourteen days, without the consent of the Librarian, to pay a_ l^ne of one penny per day. ' " ' 3. Any meniWr reti^rniTig . a book, torn, n'r otherwise damaged, shall pay full value of the said book. : . 4. No menjbpr to remdre any book, papers, o^oth,er article from the Reading Ro6m without the knowledge of the Librarian. . : . Si 4. list of books proposed to be, added to the Library to be on the, t«l>l •, membera to put do.Tfn works the jf. desire to- hav:e, snoh works to .be;obv tamed m the order entered, stibjeq.t to, the approy;al of the Committee, f . 6. All snbabriptions and Snes to be apprpprinted to the benefit of the library, •' ■:'"•■ '■ ■'•.■•■•.■. ■ ••-. .-■ ■•:'". '.' Terfiis of 'Subgcription.-— Three months, Sa 6d ; six months, 6s ; twelve months, 16s; All /subscriptions ta be paid m advance. ;;.