Teachers’ colleges seek more money for books

Press, 9 May 1985, Page 5

Teachers’ colleges seek more money for books

More money for libraries will be the main request of teachers’ college delegates when they meet the Minister of Education, Mr Marshall, for the first time. Over the last four or five years there have been severe cuts in financial allocations, which have been exacerbated by the 20 per cent devaluation last year, the Christchurch Teachers’ College Council heard yesterday. The college’s librarian-in-chief, Mr G. S. Constable, said that the present annual grant of $40,000 was not enough to keep the library stocked with up-to-date books. The grant should be doubled.

The library’s collection of about 69,000 books had remained static for the last five years, he said. Many

were outdated and should really have been disposed of. Professor W. C. Clark said that some of the library’s books were out-of-date when he was a student. Outdated books were “pernicious and dangerous” and should be disposed of.

Council members reiterated the poor condition of the college library because of inadequate funds. The issue had been discussed often in the past and requests for extra funding have brought little success.

Mrs N. J. Johnson said that perhaps funding had not been increased because some considered that with fewer students at the college fewer books were needed. It was short-sighted, as the range of subjects and need for books to be up to date had not diminished.

Mr Marshall will be invited to visit the Christchurch Teachers’ College as soon as possible to investigate the library and other facilities. The recommendation to

increase funding for college libraries was presented by Mr W. W. Cook as part of a proposal to establish a teachers’ resource centre at the college. Mr Cook suggested enlarging the library, stock, staff, and functions so that it could be used by teachers for resource, training, professional assistance, and as a meeting centre.

Several similar centres had been set up in the northern half of the North Island but there was nothing in the South Island, he said. Mrs Johnson said the council had been fighting for a teachers’ resource centre for years, and she was pleased that the issue had been raised again.

A feasibility study will be made of Mr Cook’s proposals.