NEW PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 20 February 1907, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY.

His Worship the Mayor presided over the annual meeting of subscribers to the New Plymouth library last night.

The annual report showed thiit the amount received from subscribers dvrin? the year was £135 12s Gd, as against £l2O Ills 2d for the previous year. The number Jof subscribers were: Annual 133, half-yearly 52. quarterly 2il. The committee began the year with [a credit balance of £2O ISs 7d, against which there were outstanding liabilities of £'2o. The end of llie_year showed a credit balance of U27 7s M, against .iljkli there were liabilities of about ,C2H. The whole ot ihe receipts had been .spent in new books, periodicals and general upkeep, mid there were now in the library (1151 volumes, of which 372 wore added di--ing the yc:>". The selection of books by each mail Jiad fallen upon Messrs Kclscy, Ilutchen and Skinner, who had carried out their somewhat arduous

duties in an able manner. Tlio gift of £2500 by Mr Carnegie for ilie erection of an up-to-date building should mean increased prosperity and usefulucss of the library. Miss Free, the librarian, and tlio custodian, Mr Drcwetl, bad been ;very assiduous in carrying out tbeir duties.

Tile Mayor, in moving the.adoption Of the annual statement, said the subscribers could congratulate themselves with being but &i worse oil: than last year. The support to the library had been inevcased, and be was sure that increased facilities would mean, greater support still.

Mr Skinner seconded. lie said the only drawback at present was the lack ol accommodation for visitors. That dillieulty would be got over by the election of the new buildings, lii the past year more money had been spent in keeping up the stock of standard, works.—The motion was carried. .Messrs W. Skinner, E. Mine, senr., P, \V bite and T. 0. Kelscy were uppointed to act with the Borough Council committee,

It was resolved that it be a recommendation to the committee lo meet at least bi-monthly. The Mayor moved a vote ol thanks to the selection committee.—Seconded by Mr While and carried,

Mr Skinner hoped Unit the Borough Council's subsidy would lie increased when the new buildings were erected. Members of tie Borough Council who were present agreed tuut the yote should be increased.

Votes of thanks to the retiring olliccrs loneluded the meeting,

At a committee meeting held subsequently, the selection committee was reappointed, and the secretary requested to place before next meeting a list of the newspapers supplied to the reading room.