Community Information At the Lowest Cost

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 206, 29 August 1942, Page 4

Community Information At the Lowest Cost

DEVELOPMENT OF CITY REFERENCE LIBRARY. There is little realisation by many people in Palmerston Norm of tne greow advancement made oy the rexerence section of the municipal liurary, which, starting almost from scratch three or lour years ago, has been built up to something approaching the stanaard warranted by a city of the size of Palmerston North. Nearly 3000 volumes are now on the shelves, and with the majority printed in the last few years, it is doubtful if there is a reference library in New Zealand with such a high percentage ox up-to-date information on its shelves. There are books on one hundred and one subjects, ranging from the academic and abstruse to more practical things like gardening, nursing, painting of houses, plumbing, motor engineering, etc., and the wealth of information is such as to surprise those who have not had the privilege of using the library. There are essential reference works for philosophy, religion, sociology, philology, science, useful arts, fine arts, history, travel, biography and general sections. Some sections are stronger than others and where deficiencies exist, they are being corrected, within the limitations of finance, as -ime goes on. Increasing use is being made of the reference library, and persons are to be found in it at all hours of tho day. An indication of tho extent to which it is now being used is given by the fact that, in one recent month, the staff replaced over 3400 books on the shelves. The particular value of a reference library lies in the fact that authoritative works in many cases cost more than can be afforded by tho average citizen, and by providing them for the community as a whole, the cost becomes the lowest possible amount. A catalogue is provided in the library and is a great help to the speedy turn-ing-up of information on the subject desired. Tho books are listed under their authors and the subjects. In addition to the books, there is a comprehensive selection of periodicals, the value of which is enhanced by there being a guide to the subjects covered. Under certain conditions, works can be obtained out on loan. Under an arrangement made by the New Zealand Libraries’ Association, works of reference not in the library can be obtained by a system of inter-loan from other libraries. In one particular case, infor mation was obtained from the United states for an inquirer. While the prime function of a ref erence library is to Bupply the books and let the public obtain the inforina tion themselves, many requests for information are made to the library officials. Generally speaking, any request is regarded as a challenge to “produce the goods,” and if tho information is not readily available, the library does its best to obtain it. During the past month inquiries for information have covered such subjects as Company and Mercantile law, Maori art, coins, chiropody, first motor-car in New Zealand, rubber solvents, invisible ink, Indian Congress party, codes and ciphers, flags of United Nations, plastics, historical costumes, origin of bugle calls. It is interesting to note that the Palmerston North Library’s list of aviation books has been used as a check-list by the New Zealand Libraries’ Associa tion for the benefit of other libraries. The city library has a particularly strong aviation section, the books on this subject numbering several hun dred. That a reference library can be ot great value to a town and its citizens is undoubted, and the part that it ean play in industrial and cultural development can be far from negligible. Tan gible evidence as to the help afforded is necessarily hard to obtain, but recently one businessman was able to report that, through the help obtained from information in the Library, he was able to obtain a valuable contract. In the progressive policy that has pursued in regard to the reference library, the thanks of citizens are due to the City Council, its library committee and chairman (Cr. W. G. Black) and the librarian (Mr H. Greenwood), and the hope is expressed that, despite difficulties of supply, it will be possible to make further progress.