Different, Iml well received at library

Press, 20 November 1987, Page 8

Different, Iml well received at library

The 100 French books which arrived at the Canterbury Public Library yesterday were not those expected, but were welcomed nevertheless.

The books were donated by the French Government at the request of 4he Christchurch branch of the Alliance Francaise. The French Ambassador to New Zealand, Mr Jean Gory, was in Christchurch yesterday to hand over the books to the Mayor, Sir Hamish Hay, at a function at the library.

The City Librarian, Mrs Dorothea Brown, said she was pleased with the gift .

“Our book ftjnds never stretch far enough to cater for everyone’s needs and foreign languages tend to have a low priority," she said.

The books were not those chosen by the Alliance Francaise committee. They had made their selection from a ; list which was sent to Paris, but. the books which were sent back were not those selected.

"The ones we wanted probably just weren't available,” said a committee member.

Certainly there is something of interest for all: in French, there are comics, novels, guides for travelling through France, grammar books, literary periodicals and . biographies. The novels include a range of authors — from Victor Hugo to Nathalie Sarraute. .

In English, there are novels by Robbe-Grillet and a guide book of the castles of the Loire.