CHRISTCHURCH LIBRARIAN

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26513, 30 August 1951, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH LIBRARIAN

gg-HREMENT OF MR E. J- BELL

CHANGES seen during V 38 YEARS’ SERVICE fcjnorrow Mr E. J. Bell will retire Vhrarian at the Canterbury Public ■JXrv Christchurch—a position he l*heid for more than 38 years. changes have taken place at the J**- since Mr Bell took charge of it 1913 “ n was rather a P lace in } hose . days,” he vesterday “I got a shock to see £ dull and dreary it was, for it was lighted, ana the books were a of all types, with no sys- * or classification.” Bell said that in 10 years, with * ctj’ve assistance of five or six assistants, he had the library *T ino “something like a public Electric lighting had been inand the shelves brightened up. Kership also increased. Mr Bell’s first complete year library, 65,850 books were issued. *5 year, the figure was 224,000, and year a further increase is expected. Bell’s 38 years at the library, 8,000,000 books have been circuS in the lending library, and in the (Spence library another 3,000.000 Sac have been used. When Mr Bell office there were about 48.000 ~% s the library. To-day, in spite Smany withdrawals of old books over L vears. the number has grown to J&rt W. 000.. Building Alterations lhere have been two major structural changes at the library during Mr Sir. service as librarian. In 1923.

Sil's service as norarian. m 1923, Hereford street block was erected a cost of about £6OOO to provide far a children's library, lecture hall Su extensive reference library. ReLn* extensive alterations, costing Aout £lB,OOO. have brought the library ~0 10 a “pretty high standard,” accordfl to Mr Bell. It is a standard that earned very favourable comment L™ visiting librarians and overseas visitors. Mr Bell says all that now remains is for the City Council to provide enough money for better books to ke obtained. Mr Bell said yesterday that during kk Ufe-time the place of the library in the community seemed to have changed. In earlier days, it was a quiet place, little heard of; but to-day libraries were very much in the public mind, and were bright, clean and inviting places. The old high boofccaaes had been replaced by easily acrewihle low ones. Mr Bell said he did not know whether reading tastes had changed very much in the last 50 years. The range of books and authors available tothe public had, however, increased ven greatly. The price of books had risen over the years, he continued. Thirty-eight rears ago, novels cost an average of lid each. To-day, they were seldom les than 7s 6d eacn, and sometimes the prices ranged up to 15s. Novels to-day were, however, slightly cheaper than a few years ago. “Just after the Second World War, there was a noticeable fall in the cost of books,” said Mr Bell "We were able to buy here at English publishing prices.” Ur Bell has noticed that bindings of books to-day are not as good for library service, though quality varies from one publisher to another. Books of 20 years ago are found still to be in good condition, while those placed in the shelves only a few months ago are falling to pieces. Many Demands on Memory Mr Bell has found that a good memory is an asset to a librarian, who has to answer many inquiries about books. Because of his frequent handling of them. Mr Bell is often able not only to recall the names of books placed in the library many years ago, but also to describe the colour of their bindings. Librarians sometimes receive unustia requests. Some years ago, a woman v*shed to see the official list of emjlovees in the Public Service, which aso shows the salaries pf the employees When Mr Bell had 'directed her tr it, she remarked that she had onlv then discovered what salary her hrsband received.

Mr Bell said yesterday that he would Fave his position with mixed feelings. There always seemed to be something rev among books, and in meeting people every day he had made many food friends. “I suppose now I will be sble to join the library myself, and read some of the books I have been wanting to read.” he added.

Mr Bell has had more than 50 years among books. In 1899. at the age of 14, he left school and joined the staff ef the Richmond Public Library in Surrey. In 1911, he came to New Zealand because wages were low in England and opportunities limited. He says he has not regretted this decision. Mr Bell is a Fellow of the Library Assistants’ Association and of the library Association (London). In 1933. he received a visitors’ grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and visited Canada and the United States.