RICCARTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19889, 28 March 1930, Page 11

RICCARTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.

ANNUAL MEETING HELD. The second annual meeting of :• the subscribers to the Riccarton Public Library was held last evening, Mr H. Odell presiding. The annual stated that the committee had found the year's work full of interest, and had greatly appreciated the generous help accorded by. the residents of the district, and of >the Borough Council in housing the library on the Town .Hall premises practically rent free. The library had opened in a small shop in the Riccarton road on the evening of December 22nd, 1928, the members numbering 32, With 250 books on the shelves. A canvass of the borough by members of the committee resulted in a good number of subscribers; The few months following saw a great addition to the membership, and the increase had been steadily maintained, resulting in a present membership of 200 subscribers, and over 1200 books on the shelves ana in circulation. Early in the "year the committee bad been fac«d with the problem of securing supplies of books to meet the increasing membership. On June 4th the library had been _ transferred _to the Town Hall premises, when it had been officially opened by his Worship the Mayor. On November 2nd a jumble safe had been arranged in the City, and the splendid help eiven by the residents for this purpose resulted in a total sum of £4O 19s 6d for the library funds. The committee viewed with satisfaction the steady growth of the library and the increasing interest amongst residents of the district. The library had been proved to fill a public need, . and with a growing catalogue was destined to become a useful addition to the amenities of Riccarton. The financial statement showed a credit balance of £3O 17s 3d. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr H. S. S. Kyle; president, Mr H. Odell; vice-presi-dents. Messrs W. J. McCrostie, John Wood. T. M. Ford, E, V. Smith, and R. G. Malcolmson; treasurer, Mr A. Fisher: secretarv and librarian, Mr L. W. Ormandy; committee. Mesdames Thompson. Clayworth. T. M. Ford, and R. G. Malcolmson, Miss Broadhead. and Messrs H. Manhire, R. W. Brightling, A. Steere. G. A. Rankin. F. G. Harris, P. C. Jones, O. IX Fraser, K. Milne. G. Faton, and S. F. Wilson; auditor. Mr R. Sarjeant. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Sarjeant for his services as auditor during the past year. It was resolved to forward a letter of thanks to Messrs Cassell and Co. (LondonY for their present of a parcel of. books. .