Subsidies to Libraries

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7349, 2 December 1907, Page 2

Subsidies to Libraries

For its size as a town, and its importance as the centre of one of the most extensive, and one of the

wealthiest districts in New Zealand, AshbiTrton has one of the most contemptible and least attractive public libraries In the dominion. The rooms are small and shabby, that for the circulating branch especially so; and the times a.t which and the conditions under which books and magazines can be obtained by subscribers are so unaccommodating that an outsider might think they'had been fixed for the express: purpose of discouraging the use of books. Surely the circulating branch should be open all clay every day except Sunday, and there should be a responsible librarian —some intelligent, educated woman, who would make the library what it should be, an attractive and actively educational institution. In the meantime, and all the time, funds are of course needed, and it'is .hoped that the library will secure, a share of the £3000 which Parliament has voted for distribution amongst'■ public libraries. The distribution will take place on February 4, 1908, ami no claim will be entitled to consideration tliufc shall not have boon sent in in clue form, and received by the Secretary for Education, Wellington, on or before January 27, 1908. A library to be entitled to a subsidy must be public in the sense of belonging to tiic public, and not of being under the control of an association, society, or club, whoso membership is composed of a section of the community only, and if within a borough it must be open to the public free of charge. The receipts for the year from subscriptions and donations must not have been less than £2, exclusive of moneys received- from endowments, or from Government, or from borough or county councils, or for special building purposes', or as rent, hire, or consideration for the use of any room, or building, or land belonging to the institution, 'in Tespecfc of none of which will snb'sidy fee allowed. The net proceeds of concerts, lectures, or other entert.ajnmen^s on belialf of the 'current expenses of the library will'be regarded us voluntary contributions. '■■&■ subsidy will not be given to more than pnelibrary in the mm& town. In the d>--1 Vision, of the vote a nominal addition of £2o tfi!i bo made to the amount of the income of each library derived •from b t a|jaciii)tjons, donations, and rates, arid 't-ifo*'vutie jvjil be divided according to the amounts thus jEiii^m&nted; but no library will receive"credit for a larger income -liutn £75—that is, in no case will the augmented amount'on which distribution is based exceed £100. The whole of the subsidy must be expended without delay in the pur'ohase of books for the library. Applications'to iyiiu-e must be by means of a statutory declaration ,by the chairman, or secretary) or treasurer oi ;fcjie Ui&tjtution on behalf of which it is made, and must bo accompanied by a statement of the receipts and expenditure of the institution for the year ending on t ; hp #l§t .day .of- December,. 1907.