THE CARNEGIE INSTITUTE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 249, 20 April 1912, Page 7

THE CARNEGIE INSTITUTE

AXXI'AIj 'MEETING. Tlie annua] meeting of subscribers to the Carnegie Library was held in the Town Hall last night, and was very sparsely attended. Mr. F. E. Wilson presided. The chairman read the annual report, which stated that at January 1, 1912, there were 216 subscribers on the books, viz., 121 yearly, 48 half-yearly ,and 4C quarterly, as against a total of 256 on January 1, 1911. The year began with a credit balance of £l2O 15s lid, which included £23 Government subsidy, set aside for replacing and completing sets of works by standard authors, and also a number of prepaid subseriptioVs, owing to the financial year being altered to close on March 31 instead of December 31. 'For this reason, too, the amount of subscription received during the year had been less than for many years past, being only £|9s 2s 2d. For comparison a table is attached, showing the last decennial period, as follows,: 1903i£17G Is 9d, 1900 £l4l <ss 2d, 1907 £123 5s fid, 1908 £133 3s 3d, 1000 £l9O lGs fid, 1910 £'l2l I.os 9d, and 1911 £l)s 2s 2d. The expenditure lias also slightly exceeded the usual rates, and the two causes combined have resulted in the credit balance of £l2O at the beginning of the year being reduced (after some small accounts are paid) to £i(J3 4s 3d. On January 1, Ml2, there werfc 7">'B9 volumes in the library, of which 324 were added during the year. A much larger number of books was added to the reference library than in any previous year, the Government subsidy boin{» devoted to that purpose. The committee had also endeavored, as far as possible, to complete sets of works by siandard authors, and in this respect the library had been improved. On the recommendation of the Library Committee an arrangement was made with the Borough Council whereby the latter set aside annually £IOO, which, with the Government subsidy, is to be devoted to the purchase of books and magazines. The Council meets all liabilities and takes all revenue. The Library Committee, which is to be known as the Carnegie Institute Committee is to have control of the Carnegie Library building. This arrangement should enable a large number of new books to be placed on the shelves each year, and so check the falling-off of subscribers and induce new ones to join. The establishment of a juvenile section in the library is under oonsiflerafrion, Mr. White, who has just paid a visit to the juvenile section of the Wellington Library, having submitted an excellent report. The librarian (Miss SFrec) and the custodian (Mr. Ford) have given every satisfaction. Owing to pressure of business the secretary (Mr. P. T. Bellringer) has resigned, and it will "be necessary to fill the vacancy. Thanks were accorded to the following: Mr. W. H. Skinner, for gift of books of correspondence relating to New Zealand and reports of New Zealand Company, also for loan of original sketch of Marsden Hill and two stone Maori gods; to the Minister of Internal Affairs for files of the Tarauaki Daily News and Herald, 1850-1860; to Messrs. Woon and Newall, for proclamations issued during the war; to 'Messrs. Iloneyfi'eld and Sampson, whaling tripots; and to all those who have made gifts of any kind, including the proprietors of the newspapers supplied free to the reading room. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the balance-sheet, stated that the late secretary had not commented on the fact that the {Borough Council had reduced the subsidy by £SO, and the committee were, therefore, to be congratulated on having kept within their means. The library was now on a sound financial basis, owing to the Council agreeing to pay an annual grant of £IOO, whi/h was to be expended on books. The incoming committee will, therefore, know what they have to expend, instead of having to purchase books with the residue left after paying other accounts. The report was adopted. Messrs. White, G. 11. Dolby, R. G. Whetter and the Rev. J. W. Burton were le-elected the subscribers' representatives on the committee.