PUBLIC LIBRARY CONTROL

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21972, 22 December 1936, Page 10

PUBLIC LIBRARY CONTROL

COLLEGE WILLING TO TRANSFER STIPULATIONS CONVEYED TO CITY COUNCIL GKANT OF v:l»00 Vl)\l NLW? yi.'»i> The Canterbury i'-T.zzz Council having indicated :ls willingness to transfer the a.;:s'.s and control of the Pabils Library, the City Council last night agreed to place £ 1030 on next year's estimates as a sabsidy to the library, and to obtain a full report on the questions involved in transfer. Tha College Council has stipulated, however, that it be given representation on the body governing the library, and that the City Council erect a new wing for the reference section.

The grant of £IOOO and the preparation of the report were recommended by the special committee set up by the City Council to negotiate with the college authorities, and a condition of the grant is that £750 of the sum should be spent on equipping the reference department. Trospccts of Development The committee reported that it had conferred with the College Council, and from the discussions it would appear that the library could not be developed to an extent compatible with the needs of the city unless some substantial financial assistance was given by the council. One of the principal needs was the extension of the reference library. The housing and equipment of this section, the most important in a library's activities, were considered to be entirely inadequate. "An efficient reference section required the continual addition of modern works of reference, but the portion of the Canterbury Library devoted to the reference section is inadequate for the housing of the works already available without providing for additional books,*' the report added. "Additions to the existing building are therefore believed to be imperative, the estimated cost of suitable additions, being from £IO,OOO to £13,000."

With a view to overcoming any legal difficulties which might arise concerning expenditure by the City Council on a library not controlled by the council, consideration had been given to the question of the council assuming control of the institution, and the College Counci! had intimated that it would be prepared to transfer the control to the City Council, subject to its having adequate representation on the governing body, and on the understanding that the City Council erect a new reference wing. The transfer of control, as suggested, would necessitate legislation authorising the transfer of bequests, etc., and could not be effected during the life of the present City Council. The committee, therefore, recommended that a full and comprehensive report on the question or transferring the assets and control of the library to the-City Council be prepared in consultation with the College Council and that in the meantime £IOOO be placed on next year's estimates as a subsidy to tne library, it' being understood that £750 of that sum should be expended on equipping the reference library.

More Rapid Progress Sought Commenting on the report, Cr F. D. Sargent said it appeared that tne committee considered it impossible to complete the negotiations for w months at least. He could not understand why progress should not oe more rapid, and he felt that the Government could be approached during its next session for authority to transfer the assets. Cr J. Guthrie remarked that mere was nothing in the resolution to prevent the council from completing the arrangements for the transfer. The view that much-more u" 00 "*" tion should be placed before tne City Council was expressed by c A. C. Sandston. The matter required a great deal of consideration he said. The stipulations that tne City Council should agree to build a new wing and to give .the College Council representation in the control of the library required \ery careful consideration. . The report was adopted unanimously.