CHILDREN'S LIBRARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16982, 16 October 1918, Page 6

CHILDREN'S LIBRARY

OPENING CEREMONY TO-DAY

Tho children's department of the Public Library will be officially opened by tho Mayor, Mr. J. H. GUnson, this afternoon at four o'clock. Members of the City Council, the Library Committee, and a number of representatives of educational institutions have been invited to be present at tho ceremony. The new department, which occupies the section formerly devoted to tho Grey and Shaw collections will form an attractive and useful addition to the main library. It contains about 1400 books, including juvenile fiction of. the best standard, literary classics suitable for children's reading, books of history, travel, biography, natural history, and arts. It also includes tho nucleus of a juvenile reference library for the uso _of young students and children needing assistance with their home work. - Provision has been tnade for 40 readers, the room being furnished with chairs,' tables, wall desks, and Bookcases of special design and suitable height for children. The now department will be in charge of'■ two assistants, possessing special qualifications for attending to the literary needs of young readers. It will be/ part of their duty to guido children in tneir reading. and studies, and give assistance required in any direction.

An attractive feature of tho new room will be a daily supply of fresh flowers, an arrangement having been made at the suggestion of Miss Melville, ' chairwoman of the- Library Committee', by which the city landscape gardener, Mr. T. E. Pearson, will send in cut flowers every day, with cards giving their popular name, scientific name, and details as to planting and cultivation.