National Library Scheme Urged

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 42, 19 February 1937, Page 7

National Library Scheme Urged

Matter of Vital Importance TO WELL-BEING TO COMMUNITY Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Library ideals which embraced various points in the national library system, were disclosed by delegates at the final session of the New Zealand Library Association ? s conference which concluded to-day. It was thought that tho scheme would initially cost between £40,000 and £50,000 and that the national importance of the matter was vital to the well-being of the general community. .Moved by tho president (Mr. W. J. Gaudin) and seconded by Mr. C. N. Williams (Masterton), the following motion was carried unanimously:— “That this conference instructs the council of the association to commond to the Government, locai bodies and people of New Zealand, tho project oi a national library scheme and xa particular urges that early consideration be given to the possibility of making existing library services free excepting in the case of light fiction."

“We in New Zealand owe much to the Carnegie Corporation for what it has done to help us," said Mr. T. D. U. Hall, Clerk of the House of Representatives. “In the first place there is ueed for the co-operation of the Government, local bodies, educational authorities and individuals to build up an efficient system. This co-operation would be more readily forthcoming if it was clearly grasped how effective an instrument the library service could be in the life of tho community." He said he was impressed with the part library and kindred movements could play iii solving two major problems of to-day, those of population and the utilisation of labour displaced by much anis&tion. A national library system was something of great value to this country and fully justified an appeal for help. Dr. Guy H. Bcholeficld, chief librarian of the General Assembly library, said the General Assembly library aimed at co-operation between libraries so as to make tho widest possible use of existing book stocks and to got the best value in book expenditure. “In a complete library system there must fie one library at least of a national character, the resources of which are not restricted to town or district," he added. "The General Assembly library has already developed some of the functions of a national library and for more than half a century it has been a library of deposit for the official publications of British and foreign Governments. A national central library is called on to lend books of a class which the average library cannot afford to buy. ' 9 Following a general discussion on a national scheme, Hon. T. Brindle, M.L.C., said it seemed such a sensible thing to do that he wondered why a system had not come into being long ago. They could probably extend this system throughout the British Commonwealth and get valuable books from overseas and from foreign countries into New Zealand's own libraries. The scheme had his entire approval and support.

Many other delegates also endorsed the scheme.