LIBRARY AND READING HALL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1324, 3 July 1883, Page 2

LIBRARY AND READING HALL.

TO THK KDITOR. Sir, —It would seem that the Borough is at length to have a public library and reading hall somewhat worthy of the name. The present cheerless and comfortless den, with its few hours of opening, half hundred or so of worn out and obaolute booke, and scanty newspapers, would shame a two year old village. In the building about to be erected, an energetic and enthusiastic Committee can, I have no doubt, by working the matter vigorously, make the institution one of the ornaments of the place, useful alike to visitors and the inhabitants of town and country. Ido not know, as lam but a new comer, where the fault has lain hitherto—whether with an ungenous and non-reading public, or an apathetic directory. Preparations should immediately be in progress for opening the new building with a full supply of useful and attractive matter. Better the affair had been postponed for years than commence in a pottering tottering manner from which it would certainly dwindle down, with an occasional spasmodic recovery,such as to its present moribund state. 1 would strongly advise those who will be connected with the business of the new departure, to make an estimate of all that may be required for a creditable opening and place it before the public—seek donations from the liberal who may desire to give advantages to others as well as themselves, grant life memberships for a certain sum, induce a large body of annual subscribers by the prospect of a varied and continual supply of reading matter, with abundant opportunity and accommodation, and holy town and country with lectures, balls, concerts, soirees, and sports, to their taste. It will be no small sum that will enable the Committee to provide an adequate supply of works of reference, standard and popular poetry, essays and fiction, history and travels of various lands, popular science, periodicals, say a ton or two of “yellowbacks,” newspaper, political (of sorts) agricultural, scientific, sporting, illustrated and satirical of Home, ? merioa, and the Colonies with one or two French and German, furniture, fittings and incidentals. My private opinion is that it could not be done sufficiently under between three and four hundred pounds. Such a sum would about give a fair start, and the place would be afterwards, by careful management, in a great measure self supporting. “ Whin there's a will there’s a way.” I am, Ac., Kosmos.