OUR LOVELY LIBRARY.

NZ Truth, Issue 84, 26 January 1907, Page 4

OUR LOVELY LIBRARY.

Quite m keeping with most of the municipally managed institutions m Wellington, the Public Library is a sad commentary on the manner m which such a very important institution, should be managed. Of course that it is muddled is not to be wondered at, and for that very happy state of affairs many. reasons can be advanced. First, and perhaps foremost, whenever the. Library Com[m ritee of . the Council have any recommendations -to make, other Couni cillprs, viewing everything with a' jaundioed, petty, parochial eye, make a big sing-song over the expenditure of a few pounds. When, too, it is remem-bered that the opinion has ,'been, freely expressed and shared m no doubt by other Councillors that "a Library is a luxury," the .kind of paternal interest that our Civic Fathers take m such & useful ,. nay, necessary. .-institution— as a Library, is very apparent. A library m many senses is a luxury ; that kind all cannot afford, and he who/is the fortunate possessor of shelves and rows of books is, much to be envied. The lover of book's, not necessarily a student, can on such a theme as books, those, charming, silent companions of man, -grow eloquent ; but eloquence would be wasted on a City Council that has the temerity to applaud, even faintly, the suggestion that the City Library is a luxury. Libraries are the pride of some cities ; others are famous because of 'their, libraries. If the Council is apathetic and will not bestir itself to make the Wellington Library worthy of the name, it is no wonder that the .Council's servants themselves will not go out of their way tp make the institution popular with the Jieople, and popular it is riot, and Judging from what is to be said it never will be. The Library, the reading-room part of it, is far from up-to-date and it . is extremely annoying' to be told, on applying for "Buckle's History," that it is not known. Numerous instances can be quoted, if necessary, of the rbsence of well-known standard works, while the stupenduous ignorance of the officials is amazing. There is a lending branch, subscription 5s a year, and, though it is, said with regret, as a lending library it is a disgrace to any civilised city. Subscribers are subjected to the insolence of petulant attendants, and the books are mostly such that would discredit any frowsy second-band dealer's store. The need of a book-bind-er at this establishment is apparent at the most casual glance at the shelves. Some of the books that subscribers are obliged to take out are filthy, and the , suggestion is here thrown out that the Library Committee should recommend an addition to the' building assuming the shape of a disinfecting chamber, through which the . well-thumbed, diseasedis's'e.mating volumes should be passed'ere Iliey go into circulation againIndeed the state of many volumes that adorn the shelves is such that it is matter for surprise that the attendants themselves are not ashamed to allow such books to go out into circulation. Information from these attendants is useless and. misguiding ; civility seems out of the question. There is no system and no check whatever kept on the books, and the latest and much talked of volumes are carefully put aside for friends and favorites. A trashy novel is allotted out for a fortnight —a subscriber will be told by one attendant— and when the book is. returned atv the end of that period some "why-do-you-bother-me" female assistant kindly informs the returne" that he is fined and will not be allowed to take another book till the fine is paid. Again,, seven days are allowed to digest some scientific or social work that cannot. V-e thoroughly assimilated under a fortnight. Woe betide any Phillistine who ventures to express # his opinion on the lack of system m" the library. The lending branch is anything but efficient, it is a secondhand, second-rate book-shop, and this may be, attributed to the niggardliness of the Council. It is to be hoped lhat now attention has been drawn to the unhappy state of this lovely library of ours, some effort will be made to effect improvement. Unless it is, the matter will be reverted to, and less moderately, at ! aa early date.