U.S. Information Library

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25245, 25 July 1947, Page 6

U.S. Information Library

Too little notice has been taken of the recent announcement that the

United States Information Library in Veilington is to be closed. The reason is to be found, of course, in the decision of Congress, taken in spite of evidence submitted by the Administration to the Appropriation

Committees, that the vote to maintain foreign information services should be reduced. It would be improper to criticise the decision; but its effects can only be regretted where services of great value have been given and are now to cease. The Information Library in Wellington was founded during the war by the Office of War Information and has been continued, since the war, and reorganised for a wider function by the State Department. For several reasons it has always been harder to obtain current American literature than English, in New Zealand, and the working of import control has increased the difficulty. It has been modified, appreciably, by the Information Library. Most usefully, in this respect, it has been made the central object of the library to provide current and standard works and periodical literature

in the fields of economics, politics, history, and sociology; and the object has been so skilfully pursued that the New Zealand inquirer, whether his interest has been closely specialised or directed generally towards the growth, character, and aims, of the American society, ean rarely if ever have asked for more than could be supplied. There have been thousands of such inquirers, members of Parliament, public officials, teachers, students, men and women engaged in industry and commerce, ordinary readers; and the resources of the library have been open to them without charge and without stint. They have been the resources not of an excellent stock only but of first-class librarianship. Miss Mary Parsons, who has directed the library, has personally contributed to the advance of library standards in New Zealand by setting an admirable example and by adding precept to example. When the Government, through the National Library Service and the Library Association, took steps to establish a school and course of training in librarianship, Miss Parsons’ help was sought and given and has -been richly fruitful. A question which will be asked by every user of the library is whether its closing cannot by any means be avoided. It may be hoped that the political decision to close it will some day be followed by another, to reopen it. It would be best if there wei*no interval, no break in the service and influence of an international institution so constructive. In terms of the lend-lease settlement between the New Zealand and American Governments, New Zealand is to make money available, as may be agreed, for purposes like those the Information Library serves. If this agreement holds any possibility, which the Government might pursue, of keeping the library open and developing its work, it will be unwise and ungrateful to neglect it.