Library may get paint job

Press, 29 June 1982, Page 6

Library may get paint job

Woolston’s suburban library may get a new coat of paint to help its committee attract more book borrowers. The Christchurch City Council’s cultural committee members said yesterday that they were not trying to shut down the 111-year-old library by withholding maintenance funds, but some still had misgivings about doing touch-up work on a building that might not last long.

Other councillors said that ■an exterior paint job might at least encourage the library to widen its membership.

It is housed in the old Woolston Borough Council building, which is owned by

the City Council. “I think a facelift to make it presentable for the next few years is important." said Cr D. C. Close. Cr Geoff Stone said that a Project Employment Programme scheme should be considered to get the painting done. Mr J. D. Meechin. library president, said that the library needed "an attractive shop window” to lure users. "Failing council help, we will try to raise the funds and do it ourselves." he said. The library's membership had dropped in the last year, but had been rising over five years. "I- would like to see more

younger members." said Mr Meechin. “With an attractive frontage and sign. I feel we would act as a magnet. It is now time for the City Council to front up and help' us Improve our image from the street." The frontage did not need sand or water blasting, he said. Plaster would do the job. "We are co-operating with the council. The council is not co-operating with us," he said. Cr Helen Garrett said that the building was clearly uneconomic to maintain.’ The library was/ not giving a service which warranted it being maintained as a. library.

’ The building, she said, could perhaps be used for some other community purpose. The General Manger and Town Clerk (Mr J. H. Gray) said that the council had a duty to either preserve its asset by maintaining it, or to dispose’ of the building. Woolston was a distinctive suburb, and it would be a pity if the council was not represented there in physical terms, he said. "We have only two options." said Cr Stone. "We are either going to save the building or bulldoze it down very soon." . The committee recommended temporary exterior improvements.