OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1940, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

OUR LIBRARY SERVICE

(To the Editor.) Sir. —I was very interested to read in your issue of August 22 an article from an anonymous contributor re the proposed change in the Masterton library system, and your own comments on the same subject. As I understand that the Borough Council is to meet and discuss the matter shortly I would like to suggest that they consider one or two questions before they decide one way or the other. I notice that 50 per cent of the books lent by the Country Library system are to be non-fiction. According to your columns a day or two ago, the librarian reported to the last council meeting that of the books issued in July only 12 per cent were non-fiction, and I suppose (his may be considered the average amount. My questions are:

(1) Can the Country Library system be persuaded to give us books which the public of Masterton apparently want and increase the fiction to 88 per cent?

(2) Is the suggested 50 per cent non-fiction issue a subtle attempt to "educate” Masterton readers and wean them away from reading fiction? As I have through increasing age and infirmity a good deal of time on my hands, I read fairly extensively, on the average about four books of fiction a week, besides my 12 per cent of non-fiction. At present I can obtain these novels for the library subscription of 7s 6d a year, good value for my money I admit, but not more than I deserve after being a subscriber for over 40 years. Under the new “free” system only 375 novels would be available each four months, and as there are (according to the librarian’s report) at present 568 subscribers. am I not right in assuming that a large number of us will be driven on to the "pay collection” for our new fiction. At 3d a book this may cost me up to £2 12s per year and at 2d a book up to 355.

I may say I am not a great reader of the latest “shocker,” but have for many years kept up-to-date with all the latest good fiction written in Britain and U.S.A. At present I find the Masterton Borough Library can supply me with these books surprisingly quickly after I have read their reviews. My question here is: Will the 375 novels lent us every four months by the Country Library service be new novels? A short time ago I read an article on that service and as the van is always travelling around it seems to me that we may in' the future be many months late getting new novels.

I think that the request service for non-fiction is an excellent suggestion, but is this not available for libraries without going under the Country Library system? Finally, at a time like the present when so many of us of the older gexv, eration are worried and saddened b$ much that we read each day, are we to have our cheap and highly efficient library service, bringing us a temporary escape from our troubled thoughts, lightly put aside in favour of a system that may or may not be as cheap and efficient: Are the Dunedin and Palmerston “free” libraries actually worked under the Country Library system? Here are two suggestions;— (1) The council should put off the whole matter till after the war. (2) Alternatively a vote of the whole of the subscribers should be taken — I am, etc., 45 YEARS' SUBSCRIBER. Masterton. August 26.

Our correspondent has overlooked, amongst other things, the fact that the “pay collection” system would apply exclusively to books of the “shocker” type. It should be noted also that the Country Library Service supply of books, including upwards of 50 per cent of fiction, would be an addition to the library’s stock and would not constitute its total stock—Ed.

INFORMATION SOUGHT (To the Editor.) Sir,—Having read with interest the letters published recently in your valuable paper, signed by “Curious,” "Ratepayer,” “A Fair Deal” and “Astounded Ratepayer,” I would like respectfully to put on record my ideas on the matter. After considerable thought I have arrived at the following conclusions:— (1) That the gentleman under discussion, Mr Ej. Sturgeon, Custodian of our Park, has incurred the emnity of some influential person or persons in Masterton. (2) Or has been neglectful of his duties as Park Custodian. Now, our Park is a public place. Whatever improvements are made, the shrubs, flowers, and general upkeep of the Park should have the approval (or otherwise) of the general public, and I maintain that the above interest and approval has been very definitely expressed in these columns by residents of Masterton and many visitors to Masterton during the years that Mr Sturgeon has been in charge. I think that in a case such as this, it is only right that the ratepayers should know why a capable and faithful servant (who has given nine years’ service in improving our beautiful Park to what it is today) has been ordered to vacate his custodianship within thirty days—Thanking you.—l am, etc., INTERESTEDLY WAITING. Masterton, August 26. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, to whom the above letter was referred, said he was not answering anonvmous correspondence relating to this matter.