SUBURBAN LIBRARY SYSTEM OF CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30082, 16 March 1963, Page 8

SUBURBAN LIBRARY SYSTEM OF CHRISTCHURCH

'Unique, Extensive Network” (SpaetaUv Wrtttea for "TM Press” b* BOSKMARY BWTTXN) Christchurch is the only city in New Zealand privileged to have an extensive network of suburban libraries staffed entirely by voluntary labour. These are not branches of the Canterbury Public Library but are completely independent. Their finance, book-buying, and maintenance is managed, in each case, by a committee of local persons who also work behind the desk. This system began nearly 100 years ago, and Christchurch people, long noted for their interest in the Mis, may be justly proud of their unique library service.

On May 24, 1867, residents of St Albans and Knightstown (which has since been absorbed by the St Albans district) met to consider the formation of a Mutual Improvement Association. This association aimed at the mutual improvement of its members by means of classes for special studies, lectures, readings and discussions, and not Iqast, a reading room and library. The scheme was greeted with great enthusiasm, land was given for a site for the library, building proceeded, and all was apparently well. However, only two years later, the committee reported that in view of the unsatisfactory state of the society's affairs there was no alternatives but to hand over deeds, books, buildings and all property to the trustees. After this surprising announcement the committee resigned in a body, leaving a debit balance of about £lO. There matters rested for a year. In December, 1870, a public meeting was held to reorganise the society by the election of new officers, and the library seems to have been in continuous existence from that date. Rivalry crept in when, in 1873, it was proposed at a meeting of the St Albans Wesleyan Church to establish a library in the district school building, which was soon to become vacant A lively newspaper correspondence followed, in which it was pointed out that St Albans already possessed a library. This was countered by a loyal citizen who stated that the library was in Knightstown, not St. Albans. Amalgamation was suggested, but was refused by the Knightstown people who remarked that they were quite satisfied with things as they were, with a comfortable room, a stock of more than 300 books, and everything paid for. The rival society quietly went ahead, bought a site and built on it, and for the next 20 years the St Albans district boasted two public libraries.

Financial Help In this same year an impetus was given to the formation of libraries by the availability of financial help. Canterbury was at this time perhaps the richest province in New Zealand, and in June, 1873, the Provincial Council made a grant of £5OOO “for aiding in establishing new and existing Publie Libraries, Book Clubs and Institutes in country districts.” Libraries tn town and country district* rushed to share the spoils, each asking for £2OO to £4OO. Seventy-five applications were received and the Provincial Council divided the grant by making a pound for pound subsidy according to population, together with not more than £5O for the purchase of books. When the Provincial system was abolished in 1875, Christchurch and five suburban libraries—Papanui, Waltham, New Brighton, and two at St. Albans.

At this time growth was facilitated by two Acts of the General Assembly, as Parliament was then called. The Public Libraries Powers Act <1875) provided that any group of not less than 10 persons, having subscribed not less than £2O, could make a declaration of intention to establish a public library or Mercbanics Institute at a place to be named in the deed. In the Public Libraries Powers Act (1877) an annual government grant was set aside for such Libraries. Canterbury received its first grant of £5OOO in 1878. Sumner library was opened in 1883, followed by Woolston in 1890. By a special Act in 1893 the old Knightstown library was transferred to the people of St Albans and thenceforth, St Albans has had only one library. Sydenham Library

The first 30 yean at this century saw great growth and development Sydenham opened reading rooms and a recreation club in 1903. About four yean later, because of difficulty with of the younger members, the assets were handed over to a committee for the formation of a public

library. The Sydenham library was accordingly opened in November, 1907, with an annual subscription of 8s for men and 6s for women, the men to have access to the billiard room. The Linwood Library opened in 1909 and eight yean later had 792 members and a book stock of 5969 volumes.

In 1908 Sydenham requested financial assistance from the City Council, which granted them £2O. This seems to have set a precegdent, for in 1910 a pound for pound subsidy on receipts (subscriptions, fees and fines) was made to all suburban libraries. The Government subsidy ceased in 1915 and the City Council has continued to subsidise all libraries up to the present time.

Redcliff* opened a library in 1914 in a vacant butchers shop, and Addington was established in 1919. St Martins was opened in 1927, and Spreydon began in 1928 with the purchase of 1000 books from the Strange and Company staff library. Beckenham opened a library in 1929 in an empty shop, but in 1931 erected the existing building at a cost of £995. Opawa in 1936 was the last library to be opened before the war.

Since the war, public libraries have been established at Mount Pleasant (1953) and North New Brighton (1962) both in Community Centre buildings; while in 1961 a children's library was established in Mairehau, to which it is hoped to add an adult's library soon.

Modern, Attractive Burwood library, which only came into the city as the result of the amalgamation of Waimairi County territory in 1954, was first established (in its old adequate building) in 1880. Its new building was open this year. This is a modern and attractive library, and as the most recent addition to the city’s libraries is something of a showplace. At present, early in 1963, Christchurch is served by, in addition to the Canterbury Public Library, 18 suburban libraries (one of which is for children only), with new ones proposed at Mairehau and Hoon Hay. Over the years there has been a certain amount of dissatisfaction and disagreement over the running of the suburban libraries. This centered mostly on their finance (subscription versus “free”) and on their function (educational recreational). As early as 1928, Mr George Manning (then secretary of the Workers’ Educational Association) expressed a wish that libraries could give more help in adult education, and called a meeting to discuss plans. Unfortunately there was great disagreement among representatives of libraries, and nothing concrete could be achieved. Mr Manning made a number of useful suggestions for the improvement of the system; for instance, by securing standard educational writings and books of an authoritative nature on modem problems; by guiding readers in their choice of books; by organising periodic lectures and discussions within libraries; and by supplying lists of books with mi educative nature with a view to the establishment

of an inter-loan service. However, it should be remembered that the libraries were, and still are, not being ran by professional libraries, but by working men and housewives, on a voluntary basis. There is a limit to what such people, who devote much of their leisure to the cause of the libraries, can attempt, particularly when they were without professional guidance of any kind. During 1937 and 1938 there was considerable disagreement between some City Council members and suburban library members, waged at committee meetings and in the correspondence columns of "The Press.” The argument concerned the subscription system as opposed to a free system supported by rates. Again do general agreement could be reached. ‘War intervened, and for some

jmars the libraries dispute remained in the background. The subject was raised again in 1947 by the visit to Christchurch of Mr L. R. McColvin, Librarian to the City of Westminster. He inspected libraries throughout the country and stated that: “Libraries should be absolutely free or they would lose a good deal of their value. What is being done in Christchurch is to offer a limited service to a limited number of persons.’’ Mr McColvin recommended that Christchurch consider a free service controlled by the City Council and financed along lines adopted by Auckland. Steps in this direction were taken when the Council took over, the Canterbury Public Library from the University in 1949, and abandoned subscription service there in 1952. But no attempt was made to impose uniform terms throughout the suburbs. Now, 16 years after Mr McColvin’* recommendation, the problem is still unsolved. Most suburban libraries, (particularly the older ones), still operate on a subscription basis subsidised by the City Council according to the library income. Children’s books, and supplementary adult books of a more educative nature are issued free. These “K pool” books are supplied by the City Council through the suburban extension division of the Canterbury Public Library, and for them the libraries obtain a further special subsidy of £9 per year plus £3 per thousand issues. The City Council subsidy is derived

from rates, so it will be seen that the libraries are

financed partly by subscribers and partly by all ratepayers, many of whom would perhaps be pleasantly surprised by the quality and quantity of reading available for their minute fraction of a penny per pound. The suburban extension division, which now provides professional guidance to the voluntary workers, also administers a request system which links the libraries with the national inter-library loan scheme of the New Zealand Library Association. This enables the suburban borrower to obtain books on special subjects, beyond the scope of suburban library buying, from any of the major libraries of the Dominion. The suburban libraries function independently, so administration may differ slightly from place to place. Subscriptions are now approximately Ils per annum, and some libraries have introduced an alternative rental system. Last year Beckenham led the way by introducing a system of book issues similar to that used by the Public Library, thereby making possible a quicker and more efficient service to the subscribers. The Christchurch Suburban Libraries’ Association, formed in 1947, provides a common meeting ground for the libraries where they can keep in touch and discuss probt lems common to all of them. The Association has also brought about a better liaison with the City Council, and looks forward to continuing the progress made since its inception.