GRANTS FOR LIBRARIES

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30393, 18 March 1964, Page 20

GRANTS FOR LIBRARIES

Association To Seek More

The Christchurch Suburban Libraries’ Association will ask the Christchurch City Council for an increase in subsidies for the running of libraries. Although the price of books had risen, there had been no increase in the subsidies paid by the council over the last four years, said Mr S. M. Cook (Sydenham) at the annual meeting of the association.

Christchurch had one of the lightest library ratings of any city in New Zealand, said Mr F. L. Donnelly (St. Martins). It could well spare another £2OOO for its suburban libraries.

If the present difficulty resulted from having insufficient funds perhaps the libraries should consider increasing their subscriptions, said Mr W. Gordon (Burwood). He always considered that the consumer should pay. A great number of the subscribers to libraries were retired persons, and an increase in subscription rates would be felt by them, Mr Donnelly said. The association decided to write to the City Council requesting higher subsidies for suburban libraries in the city. Officers elected were: patron, Mr G. Manning; president, Mr K. Markham (Spreydon); vice-presidents, Mr S. Fitzsimmons (Sydenham), Mrs E. Lulham (Opawa); secretary, Mrs A. Williamson (Opawa); executive, Messrs E. L. Donnelly (St. Martins), S, E. Cook (Sydenham), Miss A. Hall (Papanui).