THE LIBRARY QUESTION

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 96, 27 April 1929, Page 8

THE LIBRARY QUESTION

1 (To tha Editor.) Sir,—Mr. Blake, at Wadestown, was asked: "Did I understand you to say that the new Library will pay its way from the start?" "That ig what Mr. Norrie says," _ replied Mr. Blake.' "When tha i subscriptions come in, he thinks it is probable that it would not cost the ratepayers, a penny." When further questioned- Ua said that he favoured the Central Librarybefore the new one at ■ Wellington i Slat, I think that Mr. Blake and Mr. Norm should have a little light on the subject. Following' are figures for all libraMes:—

The above table shows that the Central Library has lost. The others remain stationary. The number o£ adult subscribers at the Central Library-has falk%j during the past three years from 2341- to, 2134. Books loaned ahow the same proportional drop. Where does the £ 100,000. come in, when we have a decrease in revenue, a decrease in subscribers, and books issued for home reading? I think the whole question of library loans should be deferred until we ■ take the city as a whole on this question. ' —I am, etc., ■ M. W. THEW. 26th April. ' '

Mr. Blake states that at Wadestown he said that the subscriptions plus the additional rate of l-130d in the £ would make the library self-supporting.

Receipts. Expenditure.' £ s. d. ■ £ s.d. 3924: 3110 15' 10 6293 4 2 .. 1928: 3398 2 0 8702 17 8 , ; Loss: £5394 15s Bd. The revenue outside of rates collected during the past three years at the central and branches amount to: ■ 19*25-2(5 192C-2-7 ,1927-28 . £ s.d. £ s.d. "'■ £ s.d. Central 2024 10 0 2084 9 7 1975 2 ] Newtowm 1199 10 0 1168 10 2 1150 1 e Brooklyn 90 1 7 101 7 7 100 5 £ Karori 61 0 9 104 7 4 136 17 I £3375 II '4 3458 14 1 3362' 7