LIBRARY IMPROVEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 May 1920, Page 3

LIBRARY IMPROVEMENTS.

CURATOR'S REPORT. The curator (Mr. John Baillie) has I submitted the following report on the | improvements at the New Plymouth ' library, to the chairman of the committee:— The alterations approved by your committee are almost completed. The new tables* for reading room are not yet to hand, but I expect to have them in a few days, when the room will be available to the public, the same hours as the circulating library. The room to be used for the old colonists and the historical section of the museum is now ready and will be arranged at once. The public newspaper room has- been re-arranged. The tables from the magazine room have been placed there and in future all newspapers will be kept there. The magazines will be in the new reading room. The old magazina room is now the caretaker's and store jroom. All papers, files and parliamentary papers will be stored there. The circulating library has also been I re-arranged, the counter being placed at the south end where the officer in charge can have control of reading room. A corner has been railed off for the children's section. The entrance hall is now clear and the wall space can be used for pictures and maps. I regret that 43 subscribers left at the end of the year, 31st March Forty-four new members have joined. I feel sure that if the library was advertised, even a little, there would .be many more subscribers. New books have been purchased and will be added at once. For the present it is proposed to open the museum on three days a week, from 12 to 2 p.m., viz., on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I would like to point out that when the circulating library and reading room opens from 10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. it will not be possible with the present staff. I would suggest that the money raised by the Mart Day and art union be allocated as follows: £SO for periodicals (including ladies' papers), £SO for books (reference) for reading .room, £6O old colonists room, to provide new frames for drawings, etc., and' the balance to museum fund. •■■.., The following books have been donated to the library: The"Treaty of Peace, official record (Prime Minister), Wanganui, H. BoKtho (Wanganui Borough Council). To Museum: Ancient wooden flax beater (<tuki-tuki), by Mr. A. N. Davies, Frankley Road (late of Pukearuhe).