NEW PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8040, 30 January 1906, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Library subscribers was held iu the Council Chambers on Monday night, and was attended by the Mavor (presiding), Messrs T. 0. Kclsey," P. White, M. Frazer, J. S. Medley, F. K. Wilson, C. Wright, J. Skinner, F. T. llellringer, X. Ewing, Baker, and Kev. W. 11. Wooley. The Ch lirnian, before having the minutes o:' last annual meeting read, stated that the present meeting was better al tended than any previous library meeting he had attended during the last three years, and he hoped it betokened a reviving interest in library matters. The annual report and balance sheet, as published on Monday, were then read. In moving its adoption, the Mayor said their finances were about square, and if they could only induce the public to subscribe iu greater numbers, the committee would soon be able |to accomplish all that was needed iu the matter of increased conveniences. It was proposed to reduce the purchase of new hooks to 20 per cent, each 'Frisco mail, or four less than heretofore, the saving thus effected to be used in improving the public readingroom. If the public would only .ittend the annual meeting in larger numbers, and make suggestions for popularising the library, the committee, "hose duties at present were thankless ones, would be grateful. Mr Wright, seconding, suggested til at it wouid be belter to cvmidctc (he sets of volumes of well-known authors, instead of getting new books of littleknown authors. The report and balance-sheet were then adopted Mr Eraser said there was, no doubl, a feeling abroad that the library was badly conducted, and that the shelves were slocked with a lot of literary garbage by such writers as Marie Corelli and Silas Hocking. The record 3f books taken out (fiction) showed 1 :hat there was something wrong with i •ithorthe library or the public. He ' lid not think (he public should be \ ilaiucd. He did not think, therefore, hat the selection of the books should l >e left tu one man, however capable, > md he believed better results would t >e achieved if a selection committee -i vere appointed.

liov. Woolloy jjoiiili'd out (luii in selecting books it was absolutely necessary Hi at tin- subscribers should lie considered. Although the com. mitlee deplored the fact, die suliseriliers clearly indicated (heir preference I'or fiction. He pointed out, however, llint the lihrarv readingfables were used |o a considerable

extent, and that biographical and historical works were consulted to a greater extent than appeared m Ihe returns of books taken out. Mr holscy said he had always heen m favor of new books being 'selected by a committee,

I lu' following gentlemen were elected to act with the Borough Council representatives on the Committee Messrs. Frascr, White, Kolscv and Rev. Woolloy. ' • The Mayor said the Committee was a good one, but be hoped Mr frascr would not, have such weight with the Committee as to exclude what were the most prolitalde books in the library, lhe subscribers and the Committee were indebted to Mr Kelscy for the trouble he hud taken in selecting books, j Mr Frascr hoped that nothing he had said had been taken as a personal reflection, if so, he was sorry, audi wished sincerely to withdraw, lie had j not been voicing his own opinion j exactly, but the general opinion of the public. j

Votes of thanks were passed, to the members of the retiring Committee, special reference being made of the work of Messrs. Skinner, Kclsey, and liev. AVoolley. Mr Skinner brielly returned thanks, and expressed bis opinion that better work would be done by the Committee if meetings were In-ld 'at nighl instead of in the day time. The question of bye-laws was referred to the new Committee to deal with.