Libraries May Need To Alter Their Thinking

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30677, 17 February 1965, Page 14

Libraries May Need To Alter Their Thinking

A doubt whether the numerical increase of library authorities, consumers, and techniques without fundamental rethinking would do for the present was expressed by the president of the New Zealand Library Association (Mr A. G. Bagnall, of Web lington) in his presidential address at the opening of the association’s conference in Christchurch yesterday. The number of printed catalogues, indices, and bibliographies available had increased greatly, said Mr Bagnall. Much time and effort had been put into refining and amplifying the codes by which material was refined. There was a growing awareness of what library collections could do, and in this country popular books could be read without charge. By 1984 New Zealand would have a population of 4m, with a complex of public, specia land school libraries, at least six university libraries, and one national library, said Mr Bagnall. The question of the librarian’s status was important, because it was closely connected with his effectiveness in his community. Mr Bagnall said it seemed that they had been obliged to rely too much on their library processes, however complex, ignoring the content of the material and the user. “In the end isn’t librarianship really about what is in the book or the various other kinds of library material?” asked Mr Bagnali. Extension Suggested

“The people we most want to get to use our services are those with the most diverse interests, with the greatest calls on their time and who perhaps are not readers anyway. What are we to do about it? There are aspects of this problem on which we need more information, but should we not rethink the whole basis of levels of service?

“Let us be prepared to give a high-level, top-drawer, personal service, nurse the hesitant, send the books to the home, the factory, the office at a price. Let our services remain basically free —this is a hard-won principle of service which must be retained —but don’t let us be imprisoned in chains of our own

casting. Let us be prepared to extend our services at a charge; we shall then be able to afford and justify more specialised services,” said Mr Bagnall. Welcoming delegates to the conference, the Mayor (Mr G. Manning), said the expansion of library services in Christchurch indicated the growing demand for books which served the many needs of the citizens.

When the City Council took over the Public Library and suburban libraries in 1948 the cost to the council was £'6Bll. In the last financial year libraries cost the council £76 044. Libraries were essential for a university and also vitally important to the general community, said the Vice-Chan-cellor of the University of Canterbury (Dr. L. L. Pownall). The Government and local authorities did not appreciate the use professional and businessmen put a library to. It was not simply a recreational centre.

Officers elected were:— Patron, the Governor-Gene-ral (Sir Bernard Fergusson); president, Mr W. J. McEldowney (Dunedin); vice-presi-dent, Mrs A. N. Gale (New Plymouth); council, Messrs S. Perry, D. M. Wylie, H. R. Bannister, E. H. Leatham, H. O. Roth, and J. O. Wilson, Mesdames C. A. C. Bishop, S. E. Shea, and E. E. McMillan, M.P:, Misses A. H. Fache and C. R. Tibbles, Dr. L. R. Bedgood, and Professor J. C. Garrett: secretary-treasurer, Mr J. P. Sage; assistant sec-retary-treasurer, Mr T.' B. O’Neill.