LIBRARY FEES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 146, 22 June 1934, Page 5

LIBRARY FEES.

CONCESSION TO CHILDREN. INCEPTION OF NEW POLICY. Following the suggestion made by Mr. Ralph Munn in his recent survey of New Zealand libraries on behalf of the Carnegie Corporation, the Auckland City Council decided last night, on the recomj mendation of the library committee, that jno subscription charge be made to chilIdren of residents of ratepayers of Auckland city. i "Auckland is an outstanding example of the poor economy of the subscription plan," said Mr. Munn's report. "The city pays £10,000 in rates for the library and only about £3000 is paid in subscriptions. The subscription fee acts as a barrier, however, to thousands of residents. Through failure to pay the additional £3000 and make the library free to residents, the city is losing much of the lvalue of its £10,000. If the subscription I plan cannot be abolished in the immediate future, free service to children, at i least, should be established, as at ChristI church. Auckland is already providing free library books in the schools, and its I extension to the public library is a ! logical step." I Miss E. Melville, chairman of the library committee, said that the children's subscriptions amounted to only £85 18/6, of which half was paid by children whose parents lived outside the city, so that the cost of the concession was negligible. It was-a small beginning in the new line of policy suggested by Mr. Mann. •■."._■■ -»