LIBRARY LEAGUE.
DISTRIBUTION OF BOOKS.
"It affords me immense satisfaction to be able to give figures like those grand totals swelling year by year until at last they represent a very solid achievement," said Miss Alice Basten, the honorary secretary of the Mayoress' War Memorial Library League, last evening, when the 14tji annual meeting was held. The Mayoress, Mrs. G. W. Hutchison, presided.
As well as sending parcels of books, magazines and papers to back-block settlers, lighthouse keepers and other residents in isolated places, the •league had last year been sending parcels and packs of playing cards to the men in relief camps. This work, which had been undertaken mainly by St. Cuthbert's Old Girls' Association, had brought the league into closer contact with the jublic than some of its other work had tone. During the year, the report stated, ,hcre had been an increase in the demand for more serious books —educational books and books on technical matters — and a corresponding decrease 'or novels and magazines. The more erious view people were taking of things luring the present period was also eflected in the large number of Bibles ivhich had been asked for from the ?ommittee which dealt with special quests. Miss Basten referred with regret to he resignation of three conveners and >f Miss Frost, who had relinquished her special duties in regard to the backjlocks children. However, new conveners had been supplied in whom the league had every confidence. "There is no doubt that our work is appreciated by the recipients of our books and parcels," said Mrs. Hutchison in her presidential address, "and we look forward to another year of useful service. At the beginning of the year it looked as though the league would have difficulty in carrying out its work through lack' of finance, but thanks to grants from , the Metropolitan Uneniplovment Relief Committee, the Prosperity Week Fund, and other sums of money which had been donated, a good year had resulted." The reports of sub-committees showed (hat a great deal of work had been done. Books had been sent to hospitals, rest homes, orphanages, blackblock settlers, schools, relief camps, the Makogai Island leper station, mental hospitals, tuberculosis huts, lighthouse dwellers, and people living in Nine Island. The report of the special request section stated that this year 73 of their country people had made application. The "Home Doctor" was still 011 the top of the list >f requests, and there, was also a great lemand for all classics. They had given iway • over 80 Bibles, 157 children's jooks, 007 magazines, 505 books, and 58 011 songs and music, making a total >f 1563 special requests. A report of the total output of literati re during the year was as follows: Sard bound books, 5998; magazines, 0,008; children's books and magazines, 108; school books, 25; sera]) books, large nd medium, 17S; illustrated papers, approximately, 10,410; calendars made >nd sent out, 231; playing cards, 25 lacks; booklets, 372; cards, 740; music songs and pianoforte), 158; toys, 395; mrcels, 1929. The men in relief camps lad been supplied with 1441 books, 1891J nagazines, and 2122 papers. At the conclusion of the meeting and >rior to the serving of supper in the idjoining room, presentations of boupiets of flowers were made by Mrs. lutchison to Mrs. S. P. Jones, Mrs. dorpeth, Mrs. G. A. Eddowes, and Miss (Yost, who have retired from the various >ffices held by them for some years, special votes' of thanks to -various lelpere were also passed. Reference vas made to the death during the year >f Mrs. Middleton, who was a keen ,vorker for the league, and members stood in silence as a mark of respect.
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Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 69, 22 March 1934, Page 13
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614LIBRARY LEAGUE. Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 69, 22 March 1934, Page 13
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