THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 16, 20 January 1904, Page 2

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Occasionally one hoars a smothered growl reguudii'ng the of ■the local pulblic library ami reading' room; but alter all iL would appear these criticisins conic from stmie biliojus indlviidnals wfho cannot appreciate what is done for them 'by the autlioiitics in charge of these institutions. At least that is tlie conclusion that must be drawn fi-oni the snralj attondjamce at the annual meeting of srtverita-s, indicating thai they arc fully satisfied with the lnaluufcviueut us it is. Generally sipeaking, tiie results, of the year's working bear litis out ; but that success is after all a very imlilferont mutter. At the last annual meeting' a recoinmendntioti was made, blunt a menubers' room be i!.fuipi>ed, but on Uppi-osK-hiiig the Borough Cduincil it was foutiid that tliere was not a room available for this purpose. In ■ view of tlie a'tten<VaiM.-e at Monday night's meeting:—seven liieiiJbers out of iilß—it was only natural Unit no plan of action should lie deckled upon for thy improvement of library arrankl'mcints. l-'inttiickilly, tin, ronuuiltiv Ibis just eiiowg'h means to ruJi along r,rii year ::i the beaten truck ; it can make no inn orations, in the reaidiii'g- room in particular there are many iinpi oivcmr-n<s that could be made ; but at presmt the manafgvuicnt litis ami who can Illume it—(decided upon a policy of laiSKtv. fairo until the pu'ldie, or the rawlijiK porlioir of it, arises und points nut a delinite line of action. Tlie needs are many, that is admit-, ted ; but the commit tec can scarcely be expected to make any altt'ratioire unless it has the hearty support of su|b|,criibers and the public Igvneially. We do not wish to bo misunderstood as complaining of the present manaiyenionil, ; that is quite as good aa could be expected under the circumstances. What we desire is to see the whole question of library and leading room accommodation taken intelliigiently in hand by the public. Then, with somct'liingdefinite before it as to what is desired, the committee may | R . n <b| 0 to 'hiring albout improvements that will make the New Plymouth p\,Vjlic library ami reading- room an institution worthy of the town,