LIBRARIANS TO MEET

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 19

LIBRARIANS TO MEET

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

On Tuesday next the annual conference of the New Zealand Library Association will begin at Palmerston North. More than 50 delegates from libraries in all parts of the Dominion will be present. One of the main items for consideration by the conference will be the utilisation of the £7500 grant which has been received from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. This sum is to be spread over five years, and the first instalment of £1750 has already been received. The grant has been made as a result -of the Munn-Barr report* Mr; Ralph Munn, of the Pittsbiirg-Public Library, was commissioned by the Carnegie Corporation to undertake with. Mr. John Barr, librarian of the Auckland Public Library, a survey of the Dominion's needs, in the way of library development, and their report is the basis on which library work is being extended.

Since then the organisation of the Dominion library services has made great strides, the institution of the country library service by the Government and. the reorganisation two years ago' of the New Library Association being two big factors. The Carnegie Ggrgo£a#on.?§ grant will.enable "|urther development to be und'ertakenT Planr include a scheme for'the professional instruction of library workgrs $hrQUghp,ut the Dominion, w}^h qorfespondence courses and spmmer schools.

The forthcoming conference begins with a civic welcome to the delegates. Mr. T. D. H. Hall will give the presidential address, and there will be an address on free libraries by Mr. G. T. Alley, director of rural library services. Several other addresses figure on the agenda paper. Tours in the neighbourhood of Palmerston North have been arranged for the delegation.