SUGGESTED CLOSING OF LIBRARY.

Otaki Mail, 10 August 1923, Page 3

SUGGESTED CLOSING OF LIBRARY.

COMMITTEE CANNOT CARRY ON. At the Otuki Borough Council’s meeting yesterday the Mayor said a deputation from, the Library Committee •was to wait on the Council, it being stated that the committee on account of lack of funds, could not carry on. He understood that an offer of £3OO had been made for the library building, ; and that it was proposed to accept this amount and hand over the balance, after paying the bank overdraft, (o the, Council. The committee tvus in financial difficulties and unless the Council did something the library would be

closed. Cr. Cockrell: This meat's that Hit Council's hands will be forced. Cr. O’Rourke thought the asset; should be accepted, and the work of erecting a building, it ken finances -warranted it, carried out. The Mayor said if the library was taken over the books could be stored, or a room rented for iho time being. In any case the Library Committee had no funds to carry on, and were not in a position to keep up interest by puchasiug new books. At this stage the Rev, Petrie, Messrs Mutts, Percivul, and Norgrovo, representing the Library Committee, arrived. The former pointed out the serious as-

pect of closing the library, and said it was felt that something would have to b,_> done. While the income had been reduced by the withdrawal of the Ciovi nmieut subsidy and the County Council’s grant expenses had increased, and the extra £-3 given by the Borough Council did not compensate them for their losses. The library was in a hopeless condition financially and could not carry on, especially as subscribers Were shewing lack of interest and leaving. 11c considered the library a municipal mailer, and he desired the Council to take steps in the near future to take it over. The Rev. Petrie then read a motion which dealt with the suggested

selling of the library and the handing over of assets to the Borough Council, railing satisfactory arrangements being made he said the building would be sold ami the library closed. This, he con--e V-red. would be disastrous, lie added that an offer of £3OO for the building would probably be accepted, he having no doubt but that the subscribers would Sit action such ft thing, the library, he said, would be prepared to hand to the Council about £IOO, 3,W0 books, etc. Mr. Percivul said for SI years the subscriptions totalled about £3-1 and expenses £22 on an average, leaving £ll or so to meet expenses, The bank interest alone amounted to £.l-3, mid had it not boon for the Council’s grant the committee could not have carried on. It was impossible to buy new books while the income was getting less and less. He thought it would be best to run the library as a municipal one. The Mayor agreed with the sug-

gestion of a municipal library, and sum it was quite true that numbers of sub-reribel-s joined either Palmerston North or Wellington libraries, In view of the Clerk’s illness he. suggested the matter be deferred till Thursday next. Cr. O’Rourke expressed a hope that flic committee would in no way bind the Council, Rev Petrie: We will give you an absolutely free hand. Mr. ‘Waits slated that the intending purchaser would give the commit tec three month’s use of the building. It was agreed that the matter be further discussed on Thursday.