ANNUAL MEETING OF LIBRARY SUBSCRIBERS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume L, Issue 7972, 29 April 1922, Page 3

ANNUAL MEETING OF LIBRARY SUBSCRIBERS

need for new building

The annual meeting of subscribers to the public library was held in the Barough Council Chambers last evening. Present : Mesdames Lowe, Butts, Yokes, McCarthy, Price, Wills ; Miss Maltby ; Messrs T. McCoy, W, J. Baigent, A. Withy. L. Ward, J. Sheffield, H. P. Butts, T. E. Price, C- M. Thoms, Wilis, Lowe, Whitaker, H. P. Mountfort, H. A. Sharp, J. T. Deakin, and Dr Cattell. Mr Butts presided

The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and confirmed. The annual report and balance sheet, as published on the 22nd hast., were read. Mr Butts said a number of subscribers had given valuable aid in the repairing of books. More care should be taken in the handling of books, especially in protecting them from the weather. Mr Petherbridge had donated to the library a set of Dickens’ works. The difficulty of securing new books was commented upon. The question of rejection of books was a rather difficult question. A new building was wanted, but they could not expect the Borough Council to provide it at present. It was suggested that a building fund be established. The present library was out of date and was not a credit to the town, He moved —That the report and balance sheet, as read, be adopted.

Mr McCoy seconded. Mr VVithy said that Mr Butts had given considerable assistance in the listing of the books, and his name should be included in the thanks of the committee. The motion was put and carried unanimously.

Mr McCoy reviewed the system of selection of books. These were purchased from a firm in Auckland. He had interviewed that firm during a visit to the city and had requested that any objectionable books be not forwarded to the library. Referring to the reading room he condemn* ed the carelessness of readers in placing papers one over the other thus giving the librarian considerable trouble in sorting afterwards. Recently a book was borrowed from the reading room for a period of four days, but was taken without the consent of the librarian. There is no denying the fact that the library building is out of date, and he thought the time had arrived for the starting of a building fund. There was a large sum spent in the town in amusement and sport, and he regarded the time as opportune for launching a campaign to raise funds by subscription. The Borough Council could be approached and asked for a £l for £1 subsidy, and a building should be erected that would be a credit to the town. The following committee was elected; Mrs H. H. McCarthy; Miss Maltby ; Messrs W, J. Exigent, H. P. Butts, T. McCoy, A, Withy, Wills, and Colonel G Sanders. MrR. L.Thomas was re-elected auditor and was accorded a vote of thanks for his services last year.

Mr McCoy said there had been a rule that subscribers could have books reserved by the payment of a penny per book. There had been objections and the committee discontinued the system, but, later, by request, reinstated it, increasing the fee to two pence per book. Votes of thanks were passed to the following: Mr W. J. Baigent, for the use of his office for meetings ; the proprietor of the Bay of Plenty Times, for assistance to the committee; the librarian, Mrs Price, in appreciation of her services.