LIBRARIES AT SCHOOLS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21335, 30 November 1934, Page 20

LIBRARIES AT SCHOOLS

SEVERE CRITICISM IN REPORT CHRISTCHURCII SCHOOLS NOT VISITED That the comments made in the recent report on New Zealand libraries were unfair criticism if applied to the library at the Christchurch Boys' High School was the opinion expressed Yesterday by Mr A. E. Caddick, senior English master at the school. It was stated in the report, which was prepared tinder the auspices of the Carnegie Corporation of New York by Mr Ralph Munn, director of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburg, and Mr John 33arr, chief librarian of the Auckland Public Libraries, that school libraries, as the term is understood in England and the United States of America, scarcely existed in New Zealand. "With one or two exceptions, the report continued, library facilities in both technical and secondary schools "were extremely meagre, and in no case did they reach an approved standard of library service. In only three or lour cases was the stock of books adequate to the needs of students. The Auckland Grammar School library ■was excepted from the criticism. "Mr Ralph Munn did not come near the Boys' High School during his visit to Christchurch," said Mr Caddick. "We hoped he would do so, but he did not appear." The Boys' High School library is housed in a large room occupying nearly the whole of the top floor of the central block of the school building. The room was specially designed for the library.' It is well lighted. The books are contained in tall cases designed to harmonise with the panelling of the room, and the cases, being on castors, may be placed so as to form bays or moved aside if wider space is required. There are comfortable chairs and tables for the boys. The library has been built up steadily over a number of years and there are now more than 5000 books, comprising travel books, geographical and historical works, fiction, belles lettres, a sociological section, poetry, encyclopEedias, dictionaries, a wide range of reference works, and a special New Zealand corner. Recently an old boys' section has been included, which contains a cartoon by David Low, specially sent by the artist, and a picture by Archibald Nicoll. At Christ's College Interviewed yesterday, Mr R. J. Richards, headmaster of Christ's College, said that the library at the college was thought to be adequate. Of course it was not so large as it was desired to make it, but it was being gradually added to. The main college library contained principally works of reference and standard fiction, but in ' addition there were libraries of fiction in each of the boarding-houses. Mr Richards said that Mr Munn was to have visited Christ's College, but did not do so.