BROOKLYN LIBRARY

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 105, 28 January 1931, Page 14

BROOKLYN LIBRARY

New Building Wanted RESIDENTS’ REQUEST A deputation representing .the Brooklyn Municipal Electors’ Association waited on the libraries committee of the City Council yesterday, asking that provision be made in the estimates for the purchase of a site to erect a new library building at Brooklyn to replace the present inadequate structure. Consideration was promised the request. Mr. G. Slade, one of the spokesmen for the deputation, said that the Brooklyn library building was inadequate and sadly out of date. Very little had been done to it since 1914, and many complaints had been made by residents of the suburb; The deputation asked not that a new building should be erected right away, but, that provision should be made on the estimates for a new site. The present building was in a blind street, it was poorly lighted, and some residents of Brooklyn did not know where it was situated. There were a couple of .vacant sites either of'which could be bought at a reasonable figure. , Brooklyn was a working community with a large number of readers. The old library building could be converted into an extension of a private kindergarten which was situated nearby.

In answer to a question, Mr. Slade said the present library could not be sold because it was the property of the Brooklyn residents. Mr. J. I. Goldsmith suggested that the council erect a two-storied building, with the library above, a social hall to be ’situated bn the ground floor, as the district was without a social hall. Such a building as suggested would be a payable proposition. Councillor Meadowcroft pointed out that a two-storied building of the nature described had been erected at Newtown, but it had not been a success, and the social hall had been converted into ' a children’s library. The ratepayers had turned dow'n’ a proposal for a. similar building to belerected at Kilbirnie. Mr. Goldsmith remarked that Newtown had other halls for hire, but Brooklyn had none at all.

The chairman (Councillor Hislop) said the council „was anxious to establish satisfactory branch libraries in the suburbs, but the question was the old one of finance. It was recognised also that the present library building at Brooklyn was not suitable for the purpose, but the best that could be done was to get' reports and consider what action conld be taken in the next financial year.

Tornight at eight o’clock Mr. Walter Nash, M.P., will speak in the Labour Hall, Petone, on “The Political Situation and Unemployment.” The chair will be taken by the Mayor of Petone, Mr. D. McKenzie.