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Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 336, 24 October 1908, Page 10

An interesting question was raised at the annual conference of the Library Association (savs the London "Daily News"). A resolution was discussing declaring that the provision of ephemeral fiction useful only for recrcativo purposes was not within the province of a public lending library. The resolution was passed, but, as not uncommonly happens, most of those who took part in tho debate spoke on behalf of what turned out to bo, the losing side. It was urged by .moro than one librarian that tho reading of fiction is, after all, in most cases an innocent amusement, and that public libraries should bo considered not merely as oducational, but also as recreative agencies. Surely in this case tho view of the minority was a sound one. Wo are passing beyond tho stage when recreation was believed to bo an unimportant item in social life. When the community is healthy one of its most important functions is the organisation of amusement. Woro not the great plays of tho Greek tragedians first seen at public festivals managed by the State?' Are, not tho finest statues and pictures and buildings always produced forthe enjoyment of a whole people, and not merely privileged cliques? If the public library did no moro than provide rccrcation it would perform no ignoblo function. Tho librarian should, of course, direct his readers if possible to what is best, but against novels and belles-lettres as such lie should cherish no sort of prejudice. In following this course ho will most effectually servo tho cause of tho severer branches of literature. Most of us, perhaps, began by reading novels. Tho reading habit has, after all, only recently established itself among our people. ; Is it to be wondered at that they turn first to the simplest form of literature, tho story?