TWO TYPES OF LIBRARIES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22466, 29 July 1938, Page 3

TWO TYPES OF LIBRARIES

MERITS AND DEMERITS DISCUSSED VARYING VIEWS EXPRESSED The merits and demerits of the free or rate-supported library and the subscription library were discussed at a meeting held last evening under the auspices of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Library Association. Mr R. W. Flintoff (vice-chairman) presided. Mr C. W. Collins, librarian of Canterbury University College, said that the public of Australia and New Zealand thought that the function of libraries was recreational, while the public of England, the United States, and some other countries considered libraries to be for vocational, instructional, cultural, and recreational purposes. "The subscription library is a bad business," said Mr W. E. Linton, who remarked that he had found that the subscription varied from 6s to 10s throughout the country. Libraries were started in England with the aim of being educational institutions. The subscription system was tried, but was found to be not good enough. The rate-supported system then came into being, the rates being charged on the assessment of rental. He had paid Id a £, which amounted to 3s 4d on a rental of £4O. Under this system a man and his wife and family could all obtain books. "I feel I am paying far too much for the services rendered to me in New Zealand, and I know there is a way out." Mr G. Hillsdon said he had been told that Christchurch had more libraries than any other city in New Zealand. .From his experience, he considered that recreation was the first function of a library. "In Christchurch we have suburban libraries catering for the public in a better way than libraries in other centres in New Zealand. Why should we have free libraries, pay rates, and be unable to get the books we want?" he asked. "A Unique System" "We have in Christchurch a system unique as far as New Zealand libraries are concerned," said Mr T. Kirton. "We have 11 suburban libraries, which are being run by the community, and which are supplying recreational reading at a cost to the city of less than £IOOO a year. I maintain that these libraries never did, and should never try, to put themselves in the position of a reference library. The suburban libraries supply recreational reading to thousands of people who are given what they want. Although there is a free public library in Dunedin, it is not filling the bill, because there are 45 commercial libraries in that city." he said. Mr Collins said that a free library must offe- services which would benefit the community as a whole. Mr E. J. Bell, librarian of the Canterbury Public Library, tried to make a nonfictional book available to as many readers as possible by placing it in the reference section, which was open lo all. A book of this type should really go out into circulation, and be read by people in their homes. "I recognise the good work being done by subscription libraries in Christchurch," said Mr Bell. He said he had seen L lh sides of the position, having worked for 13 years in free public libraries in England and 25 years in a subscription library. He was not going to say which was a bad system and which was a good one, because he could not be disloyal to his city. "The library system of Christchurch is no system at all." said Mr N. Barker, "It is a jungle. There is no unity in it at all. It has been my misfortune in the last two years to have had to make a short survey of New Zealand libraries. The public is better served where libraries are rate-supported. All over the world there is a trend towards serious non-flction reading. Free libraries are better situated to satisfy this need. It is easier for them to put all their serious literature in their lending sections, and so allow borrowers to read at home. Otherwise volumes are confined to the reference shelves."