EXTENSIONS TO LIBRARY.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20905, 12 July 1933, Page 10

EXTENSIONS TO LIBRARY.

♦ REOPENING OF SPREYDON BUILDING. DISTRICT CONGRATULATED ON IMPROVEMENTS. Following the enlargement and renovation of the building, the Spreydon library was reopened to the public by the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, MJP.), last evening. There was a large attendance of residents at the function, and congratulations on the improvements that have been carried out were expressed by representatives of local bodies and suburban organisations. An impressive front entrance is a feature of the new part of the building, which now has accommodation for many more than the 3000 books at present on the shelves, as well as a subscribers' reading room. Mr L. C. Jolly, chairman of the library committee, welcomed the Mayor and visitors. He said that the occasion was an auspicious one for Spreydon residents, who were all very pleased with the extensions. In the past the Spreydon library had been only a small one. but the Christchurch City Council, in response to the representations of the district, had agreed to make the much-needed additions. The library was the youngest in Christchurch, but was a credit to the district, and it was hoped that its recent progress would be maintained until it became equal to any of the suburban libraries.

"A Valuable Asset." The Mayor said that when the request for a sum of money to extend the library came before the council that body was very hard up—a condition that might be regarded as chronic, said the Mayor amid laughter. So strong and insistent had been the pleas of the district, and so persistent the efforts of councillors from that end of the city, that the council had eventually agreed to the request for an extension, provided that the money necessary was not included in the expenditure for the last financial year. He congratulated the district on the great improvement it had secured for its library. He said that he did not expect that the accommodation recently provided would last for long in so progressive a district as Spreydon. "I am assured that the contractors, Messrs Calvert and Son, have done their work well and the building and engineering experts of the council are well satisfied with the job The cost was £365, and I personally am satisfied that an excellent job has been done for the money," said the Mayor. "I want to congratulate the district on a valuable addition to its assets and facilities. I hope that the residents will derive much pleasure and enjoyment from the library, and that there will be many generous supporters who will help with the supply of books. I feel sure that it will not be long before the institution is so prosperous that those responsible for the administration of the library will again be knocking at the door of the council asking for further assistance " concluded the Mayor. ' Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., Cr' J. s Barnett, Mr D. Sykes, a former Mayor of Spreydon, Mr H. C. Lane, president of the library, Mr J. Skelton, chairman of the Spreydon Burgesses' As# sociation, and Mr V. Hean, city architect, also spoke. Supper was served at the conclusion of the meeting.