NATIONAL LIBRARY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 91, 14 October 1935, Page 7

NATIONAL LIBRARY

DETAILS OF SCHEME

POOLING Of RESOURCES

RURAL DISTRICTS

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

When interviewed on his arrival at Christchurch the Prime Minister (the Kt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) indicated that the Government had been considering for some time the possibility of improving the library facilities of the Dominion, particularly in rural areas. • The Prime Minister explained that in the past the Government-had endeavoured to assist the smaller libraries by means of individual subsidies. - This, system had been found to be ineffective as the libraries which the subsidies were "intended to assist could not,by this means be placed in. possession of the substantial .funds required to provide a sufficiently varied choice of books to meet. the demand for both educational and recreational literature. The' whole position had been carefully investigated and reported upon recently by Mr. Ralph Munn, a representative of the Carnegie Corporation, " associated with Mr. John Barr, one of the Dominion's leading librarians. The Government much appreciated the intimation that the corporation was prepared to- continue its interest and assistance in impro^ ing the present position. PLAN FOR CO-OPERATION. ■ "The plan that is now being considered by the Government is based on the principle of co-operation between all New Zealand libraries' so as to make the total resources available over the whole area," said Mr. Forbes. "It contemplates, at,the head of the system, a national library, with a. comprehensive lending department, one of the .essential functions of which would be to collaborate .with all' other libraries, both in the main centres and in rural districts; in providing the best possible distribution of the wider range of literature that will be at its disposal. - . . ■ sp "The scheme does not involve any interference with the local control of existing libraries. It is intended merely to-increase their means of usefulness which are. at present restricted by the limited funds now at their disposal- .: ' ..,'.: ; '~'.'•"■ QUESTION OF HOUSING. "Details for the establishment of this national library are - already taking shape and it is anticipated that it will be.possible for this purpose to combine the existing Parliamentary Library with the Turnbull Library and with: the library of the Royal Society. The question of the provision of; suitable housing for the proposed institution either by way.of an extension of the present' Parliamentary Library or by a new building on the site of the present museum is being considered by the Government and the Public Works Department has been investigating suitable plans. ■ "Dr. G. H. Scholefield,' the Parliamentary Librarian, is at present visiting Europe and America and is inquiring into all aspects of the matter that may be useful.:. ; . "Without any serious additional cost to the country the national library, as proposed, would have the funds and the facilities to acquire and distribute literature on the widest possible scale, and it is proposed jthat the books available for loan in the national library should be distributed both by a system of regular exchanges to smaller libraries and by individual'applications from readers in any part of the country. Rural libraries, for example, would; receive regular ■ supplies of books from the national library, returning them when finished with and obtaining fresh supplies. It is considered that by this means readers even in the remotest districts, would be able to obtain the widest possible range of literature. The scheme would also, no doubt, be of great assistance in extending the literature available for use in schools. : . ' IN SCATTERED AREAS. "Some organisation to cover the whole of the rural areas, including the more scattered areas, where there are no libraries, at all, will be necessary and this is being investigated at the present time by; a small committee of expert librarians and two Government officers. . ■ • "One of the main difficulties of residents 'in rural districts," said : Mr. Forbes, "is the insufficient supply of suitable literature. Particularly is this felt by the young people who are unable to continue their education when they have left school owing to the absence of the necessary text books and sources of information. By -this scheme,' which• it is hoped: can be brought into operation at an early date, it should be possible for fhe whole Dominion to share in the facilities that under the present system are largely confined to the larger centres. "Rural districts particularly require adequate library facilities and it is in those districts that the present system is least satisfactory. Though threequarters of our library buildings are in country districts these contain les» than half the library books in Nevf Zealand, and the selection available is usually a very poor one. Under the proposed scheme, it will be possible to pay special attention to/rural needs and the country reader will be given access to exactly the same library resources as are at, present available, if at all, only in the citjes."