OTAKI LIBRARY.

Otaki Mail, 27 January 1922, Page 4

OTAKI LIBRARY.

ANNUAL REPORT. I The following report wvill be submitted at the annual meeting to be held on Monday night at the Council Chambers: — — 1 I “It is a matter of regret to your Committee that so little interest -is taken in the affairs of the library, either j by the subscribers or the citizens of Otaki. A free public reading-room, with leading daily newspapers, Agricultural Journal, Farmers’ Union'Advocate, Hansard, Quick March, Public 1 Health and Hospitals, and photographic journals, Government statistics I and others, should be a valuable asset to any town, and in addition there are valuable works of reference, which can be consulted free of charge during the hours the library is open to subscribers. The apathy of tho residents of the Otaki district is hard to understand. Your committee, with a view to betteiing the finances of the library, as well as having a better building erected m a more central position, advertised the present building and land for sale, but no applications were received, and it is still open for sale. During the year a number of old books were sold by auction, and- U2 volumes were added to the library. Early in tho year Mrs G. Fox resigned her position as librarian. Mrs. F. G. Davies was then appointed, but only held office for a few weeks. Mr S. Norgrovo was appointed in April and continues to hold the position. As the librarian was not occupying the residential portion of the building it was decided to let the same, the rent to be paid to the librarian. The thanks of the Committee are due to the proprietors of the following newspapers for supplying papers free, viz., Manawatu Standard, Levin Chronicle, and 1 Otaki Mail. In November last Mrs J. i\V. Hodgson, who has been a member of the committee, and done good work for the library, removed to Carterton. ! The overdraft at the Bank of Austra- • lasia has increased by £l9 Is 3d, and ; , n ow stands at £199 l£s 9d on which interest has to be paid. Tho number oi 'subscribers has fallen considerably

and now stands at 58; there are a number of people who join for the winter months only. ’ ’ —B. Norgrove, Secretary.