LIBRARY AND MUSEUM.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1919, Page 6

LIBRARY AND MUSEUM.

Librarian and curator WANTED. Messrs A. H. Johnstone and P. J. White, members of the Carnegie Institute Committee, waited on the Borough Council at its meeting on Wednesday night, to urge the adoption of the committee's report, chiefly in respect to the appointment of a proper staff to control the institute. The committee recommended the appointment of a curator and librarian at a salary of £3OO per annum, and an assistant at £BO per annum. Mr Johnstone said the deputation came as members of the Council's own committee to urge what they considered was necessary for the future of the institute. The history of the institute was well-known. The real work of librarian had been carried on by various members of the Library Committee, whose services had been given quite gladly and gratuitously, and they had been ably assisted by Mrs Marvel. He stated that no library of the size in the Dominion was carried on as cheaply as the New Plymouth Library. In addition to the library there was also the very valuable collections of exhibits given by Mr Skinner, which, as the building had been completed, was now housed therein. The committee now felt that it had come to what might be called the parting of the ways, and was not able to carry on without the appointment of a librarian and curator. The Wellington librarian had recently been in New Plymouth and had expressed gratification at finding so complete a collection of books in the library. He had stated that there were some books not posesssed by the Wellington library, and the collection of books on the early history of New Zealand were a particularly valuable lot, and one of the best in the country. Continuing, Mr Johnstone said there were at present about 10,000 books on the library shelves, and the library suffered because there was no skilled librarian to carry on the work. ThS position was more acute now in view of the museum exhibits being ready to be classified, and it was necessary that there should be some competent person in control. The museum exhibits were a particularly valuable asset and related specially to the intensely interesting early history of Taranaki. Mr Johnstone compared the cost of the control of the local library with those in other towns of approximately the same size, showing that the cost in these places was much higher than that recommended by the committee in regard to the local institute. Very few of the other places had a museum attached to their libraries. He claimed that the library had been carried on fairly efficiently at small cost to the town. In the matter of the museum, and especially at the commenceent of its history, it was necessary that someone should be in dfcily attendance at the place, to classify exhibits and to assist in the .collection of the same. The financial position of the committee was no secret, and his own opinion was that it would be better to strike a small rate and collect money over the whole borough for the up-keep of the institute. He pointed out in this connection that the whole of the caretaker's salary was now charged to the Library Committee. Mr White supported Mr Johnstons. The Mayor stated that the matter would receive the Council's earnest consideration. He recognised that although the present Council was not responsible for the establishment of the library and museum, it had fallen to its lot to meet the present difficulty, and having been established it must be carried on. The value of the institute was recosnised, and the matter would be dealt with in the preparation of the estimates for next year. The deputation thanked the Council and withdrew.