NATIONAL LIBRARY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 34, 10 February 1927, Page 12

NATIONAL LIBRARY

-•BOOKS FOR THE FAEMERS

WHAT SORT OF READING?

. THE PARLIAMENTARY COLLECTION

(JSy Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WANGANUI, This Day

A suggestion that the General Assembly Library should be a national library, run,largely for the benefit of primary producers so that helpful books of reference could be distributed to them, was made by the Hon. J. Barr, of Auckland, at the New Zealand Library Conference yesterday. Mr. M. H. Oram (Palmerston North) endorsed Mr. Barr's suggestion, and stated that he believed the distribution of works of reference among primary producers was a work of national importance. Dr. G. H. Scholefield (Parliamentary Librarian) described the policy of the lib/ary. During the'session no outsiders had access to the collection, but during the recess books were sent out i on request to, members of Parliament, j and books other than fiction were lent to some 900 privilege holders in Wellington, who were recommended by members of Parliament. The policy of the conduct of the Parliamentary Library had been fixed long ago by Parliament, and it would be a rash man who would attempt to overthrow it. However, he was in favour of the principle of widening the area over which books were distributed during the recess. Mr. J. C. Andersen, of the Turnbull Library, said the books in his library were in a different category from those of the Parliamentary Library. The Turnbull collection could only be consulted by callers at the library. As for the education of the primary producers, he belie ed many of them did not want to be educated. If they did want books their representatives in Parliament would get them fo.' them. Similarly many adults did not want further education from books. It was among the younger generation 1 hat the best and most conscientious readers were now appearing. Mr. Bare said there was . a danger that the Parliamentary Library would become simply an ineffective substitute for a national library, such as there was in New South Wales. Mr. E. J. Bell (Christehurch) said that the endeavours to-furnish good.and informative literature'to country subscribers in Canterbury had not met with an encouraging reception. Mr. J.-'F. Arnold, of Timaru, saia that an extension of the functions of the 1 Parliamentary Library was desirable. There were 100,000 volumes in the Parliamentary Library, and 50 per cent, would never be missed by the members of Parliament-, even if they were out all through the session. He believed it to be futile to attempt to influence the Government at present. Mr. W. Brock, of Christehurch, agreed with Mr. Arnold that there would be little chance of accomplishing anything at present. He believed the principle of sending reference books into the country was admirable, but they had first to" create a' demand. At present country people seemed more interested in light fiction. Mr. W. B. M'Ewan (Dunedin) said that a demand could be created if the right methods were used. Miss Melville (Auckland), the president, thought the conference should be able to educate the public to a demand for informative works. There was. no justification for so valuable a collection of books being locked up out of reach of all but a f .voured few who happened to live, in Wellington, but who paid no more towards the upkeep of the library than did residents in the backblocks. Ifc was the duty of thi State and not of the municipalities to supply reference books to country people Mr. J. Nome, of the Leys Institute, -t'onsonby, said the association had been trying since 1911 to effect an extension of the functions of the Parliamentary Library, and he thought it was hopeless to expect anything at present. He thought it would be preferable to endeavour to serve country readers by netting aid from the Carnegie Institute After further discussion the matter was dropped. It was suggested that a sub-commit tec be set up to go into the matter. '„