A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3810, 1 October 1883, Page 3

A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

[To Tim Editoii of the Daily Telegraph.] Win,—l note in your sub-leader of Friday you remark that " at the last poll that was taken on this question there was a strong feeling that the agitation for a free library arose amongst and was maintained by those who could well afford to pay a guinea a year for the literature they could obtain at the Atliemeum." You will, I know, accept my assurance that the members of the committee at whoso instigation the meeting was held at the Athenseum neither wish nor intend to withhold their annual subscriptions. Should the corporate members decide on freeing the reading room, whilst it would enable them legitimately to claim the Government grant (now £120 or thereabouts in all), the lending library and the management would remain as at present. It was the views of their duties and responsibilities so forcibly set forth in your leader of August 9th that first drew my attention to the subject, and I trust you will not turn back from the eminently desirable prospect you then pointed 'to as attainable. By the Public Libraries Act of 1579 a minimum subscription of five shillings to the lending library is made imperative, whilst it can be fixed at such higher sum as the management may think desirable. I am, however, strongly that the time i.s inopportune to raise the question of bringing the town under the Public Libraries Act, and that that portion of the question may bo advantageously postponed for twelve months. —I am, &0., A Student. Napier, October 1, ISS3.