CARNEGIE LIBRARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1920, Page 4

CARNEGIE LIBRARY.

ANNUAL MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS The annual meeting of subscribers to the Carnegie Institute Library was held in the Institute last night. Mr. W. H. Skinner, chairman of the committee, presided over an attendance of about IS; including several ladies. The chairman presented the commit-

tee's annual report, which dealt with the development of the library and museum during the past year. .Suitable reference was made to the valuable work of Mr. A. H. Johnstone, who resigned from the chairmanship of the committee on leaving- the district. Great interest had been shown in the museum since the .opening on August 28 last, and there had been numerous additions of valuable gifts to the collection of exhibits. During the year considerable improvements had been made, and more were in progress. Old and worn-out ,i;noks had been removed • from the shelves of the library and a considerable mini of money spent in replacing them bv new books. A children's department had also been provided, which it was hoped to extend in the future. Tho old magazine room was a most uninviting place, and this had been closed and a far better supply of magazines provided in the new room upstairs, which would also serve as a reference library. The former reference room would be converted into an old colonists' room, where pictures and other memorials of the old

days would find a permanent restingplace. Reference was made to the mart day, by means of which a sum of about £2OO was raised for tho library. The number of subscribers at the end of

tho year was 572 as compared with 274 for the previous year, the increase being attributed to the efforts of the librarian and staff. The number of books purchased was SO2, made up of fiction ;>«(>, biography 43, (ravel 18, poetry and drama 23, general Sfi, children's 97. Tho average number of books and magazines issued per month was 5800, of which 0200 were fiction and 600 general literature. The report concluded with an expression of the committee's tlianks to the librarian and stnfT for their work during the year. The balance-sheet showed, among other items on the receipts side: Subscriptions £247 19s sd, borough subsidy £775. Tho principal items on the expenditure side were: Balance from April 1, 1019, £349 14s (Td, salary of librarian and assistant £.172 14s 10d, salary of custodian £IBS lf.s 2d, books, magazines, and papers £284 12a Bd, and furnishings £143 6s fld. On tho motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. A. S. Brooker, the report and balance-sheet were adopted. . The election of subscribers' representatives on tho committee resulted as follows:—Miss Douglas, Messrs W. H. Skinner, G. H. Dolby, and W. H. Moyes. Other matters affecting the interests of the library were discussed, and some suggestions made to the incoming committee for the popularising of the institute.