LIBRARY FINANCE

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18261, 20 December 1924, Page 6

LIBRARY FINANCE

* NO INCREASE REQUIRED.

The Board of Governors of Canterbury College decided yesterday that no increase in the amount set down in the estimates for expenditure on the circulating department of tho City Library was needed.

The Library Committee, after considering an amendment moved tty Mr L. B. Wood: "That tho allocation of £6OO for new books in the circulating department in 1925 should be increased to £IOOO, that sum to bo expended in the ratio of 2 to 1 on fiction and nonfiction respectively," brought down tho following Report:—'' Having thoroughly enquired into the questions of library finance and requirements involved in the notice of motion referred from the last meeting of the Board, and having heard the views of tho librarian on the matter, the"committee does not recommend any increase in the amount set down on the estimates for expenditure on the circulating department iurin 1925." Mr Wood dissented.

Dr. J. Hight said he was rather dissatisfied with the nature of the report. He realised that nothing further could have been done on the financial side, but he thought it should have contained an outline of the principle on which the Library Committee ran its library. As a member of the Board, he would have liked to know what proportions of the money were available for books and for additions to the library; what proportion might go to the circulating and to the reference departments, and what proportion might be spent on fiction and on non-fiction parts. Thero ■were also certain important classifications for the non-fiction department. He wished to know who selected the books. In Auckland the selection was made by a small committee, which had power to co-opt members of tho community who had a special knowledge of books. In the Library Committee's statement he had expected to see the facts and principles of the selection of books set out.

"I was-Mlso rather disappointed at the report," said Mr C. D. Hardio. The committee had just received a very substantial windfall, and lie considered that some of it should be spent on, improving the library. Some of the books there were very old, and offensive to the touch as well as other senses. These should be relegated to the rubbish heap, and others purchased in their stead. -A great many standard authors wore not represented on the shelves. He would like to sec a recommendation j that some proportion of tho amount asked for should bo apportioned to the j library, not necessarily straight away. Mr Wood had been an enthusiastic member of the Library Committoo for years, and it was no reflection on tho committeo to say that it had not satisfied everyone. Mr Wood did not have a sufficiently catholic taste to warrant him picking books for the community of Christcburch, and the speaker would suggest that it was desirable for tho Library Committeo to co-opt other individuals. He would like to see Professor Wall,' Mr W. D. Andrews, and Mr T. W. Eowo on tho committee. Men of that stamp would be only too willing toact as. selectors. Mr J. J. Dougall commented that there scorned to bo an idea .that the Canterbury Library was not up to the standard it. ought to attain. _ When lie comparod it with the other libraries ho had no hesitation in saying that it had no superior in New Zealand. In Auckland tho non-fiction part of the circulating library was better than tho local one, but apart from that tho Canterbury Library was superior. Tho method of selection was that the librarian presented a list of books to tho Committee for approval. Several suggestions for improving tho library had been received and a suggestion book had been already placed in the building. In many cases names written in tho book were of books already in tho library. It was quito truo there woro books in both departments that had seen their best days, and these would bo replaced but for tho money | problem. The money to be Bpent on ; tho library this year was greater than jin the past. Tho librarian had considered that the expenditure of £IOOO would not bo profitable, and should not bo carried out at present. Mr 801 l intended to rcceivo suggestions from subscribers like doctors, clergymen and other professional men, and as to tho class of books needed. Tho'object of the Board was to place tho library frco of" debt, and till it paid off the mortgago it was inadvisable to spend tho amount suggested. The public was not dissatisfied with the library, for the librarian had recoived no complaints. Mr Bell was one of tho bost librarians in New Zealand, and he had expressed a definite opinion, which tho speaker did not feel like "going against. Mr Wood said ho had dissented from the finding of the Committee. In tho last 10 years members who had taken a great interest in tho library had realised there was a need for library extension and aIBO for improvement in the books. Seven years ago the library account was in credit for tho first time, and since then it had become Steady and financial. During the current year an unexpected windfall had fallen to the Board, which had been enabled to put tho library account in an even better position than had been proposed in the beginning of the year. In doing so the need for improvement in tho stock of books had beqn lost sight of. Ho had been a member of all tho Library Committees for % the last twenty years and he was of opinion that some standard authors should bo added to the library and some other books should be put out. Not one of the great authors from Sir Walter Scott to Joseph Conrad was represented in the circulating department by a complete edition. An argument had been brought forward that people could not bo induced to read tho good books, and consequently the. expense was not worth while. For all practical purposes tho librarian was the solo selector of tho books, and in the speaker's opinion the job was much too big for any man to take, no matter how well-versed he might be in the knowledge of authors. Such a largo establishment as tho Christchurch Library should be served in a better manner. .

The Committee's report was adopted.