Library Services ‘A Poor Relation’

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32219, 11 February 1970, Page 28

Library Services ‘A Poor Relation’

(N Z. Press Association)

NELSON, February 10.

Although slom a year was spent on library services in New Zealand—more than the budgets of some Government departments—it was not considered important enough to have a Minister in charge of libraries; the industry thus (continued as a poor relation of other activities, said the president of the Library Association (Mr M. C. Sexton) opening its annual conference in Nelson today. In spite of frequent requests from the association I for a major inquiry into the I country’s library services, none had been undertaken by the Government in more than 1100 years.

Yet there were serious anomalies in the service. The country’s six university libraries together spent $840,000 a year on books—3o per cent more than the $660,000 spent by 126 public libraries, and serving a far wider population.

The Auckland Public Library, serving more than half a million people, spent less than half as much on books as did Auckland University, said Mr Sexton. Yet, if New Zealand was to keep its manufacturers and producers up to date with the latest information on discoveries and techniques in their industries, there was a great need for fuller library facilities.