A PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Evening Star, Issue 9911, 24 January 1896, Page 1

A PUBLIC LIBRARY.

It is little less than V scandal that this City should be without public library. Bearing identically tho same name as the 'modern Athena, and emulating in her educational institutions the capital of Scotland, Ditnedin stands alone anlong the cities and large towns of Australasia in being altogether behind the times in respect to this great educating influence—a library open to all and affording special advantages to the youth of the industrial classes. Efforts have been made from time to time" by some of our citizens to supply this urgent want; the matter has been considered by the City Council, but the state of municipal finance has stood in the way, and the perhaps natural disinclination of the burgesses to any increase, however small, of the rates' has prevented the adoption of the Public Libraries Act, which necessitates only a very trifling annual contribution. It is true, however, that without a suitable building, and at least the nucleus of a library, the provisions of the Act would be of little practical' service, and this haa been ontirely realised. Steps were accordingly taken a few years ago to raise the necessary funds, but, although there was a modicum of success, the amount which it seemed probable would be raised was felt to be insufficient, and the endeavors were suspended in consequence of "hard times." The fact cannot be ignored that the existence of the Athenaeum and Mechanics' Insti-* tute has been distinctly a bar to the establishment of a public- free library. With the bes<i intentions the Provincial Council of Otago constituted and endowed this institution on a statutory basis, with the unfortunate effect that a qitmi corporation has been created, all subscribers being members. This corporation is absolutely seized in the property of the institution, is able to resist any attempts at reform in accordance with the spirit of the age, and to monopolise the advantages conferred by grants of public money, appropriated beyond question with a view to more general and popular application. Looking at tho Athenamm as it is, and the purposes to which it is mainly devoted namely, a lounge for the desultory reading of ephemeral literature and tho circulation of works of fiction not generally of the most intellectual type—it may be interesting to note what wore the intentions of its foundation. The Dunedin Athenrcum and Mechanics'lnstitute Ordinance was passed in tho special session of the Provincial Council held in November, 1870, having been introduced by Mr B. 0. Haggitt, then Provincial Solicitor, and passed through all its stages at one sitting. The object of the incorporation of the institution was declared to be " the diffusion of "intelligence and tho extension of sound "learning in the City of Dunedin"; and it was set forth in tho Bill that the purposes were, inter alia, to " form and provide educational classes and "lectures ; meetings for social and ihtel- " lectual improvement; the collection of " scientific apparatus or other things illus- " trutive of science or useful for education." In order to enable this work to be done the Council from time to time granted money and land endowments of the then estimated value of about £5,000. The institution was therefore undeniably a public one in its inception, and there was no idea of it being conducted as the private reading room and circulating library into which it has certainly developed. There is, however, no pretence that the present position is not a legal one under the ordinance, which seemingly was somewhat loosely worded, and did not conserve any rights whatever to the outside public. The subscribers " hold the fort" beyond doubt, and, if they choose to maintain their isolation, can only be interfered with by an Act of the General Assembly. It might, of course, be an argument in favor of such legislation that the intention of the Provincial Council is not being complied with, but it is a mistake to contend that ipso facto the statutory rights have been forfeited, and thus attempt to coerce the Athenaeum corporation into a course of action which, it is to be hoped, they may, on duo consideration, be induced to voluntarily adopt. The resolution to be proposed at the annual meeting of subscribers, to the effect that whenever the City Council are prepared to establish a free public library the property of the Athenanim s&all be handed over to them as the nucleus of such an institution, commends itself generally as practical and as being in the right direction. The main difficulty in the wav of such establishment would thus be surmounted, and we quite believe that should the resolution be adopted a free public library for the City and suburbs would be within finite distance. A small library rate would not, we think, be refused by the and it may fairly be presumed that the funds required for the initiation of the library on a scale worthy of the City would be forthcoming. The amount absolutely necessary for this purpose would not be large, and we feel sure that the great majority of the citizens would be willing to practically demonstrate their realisation of tho benefits of the institution. The advantages arc no matter of conjecture ; we see them reaped in other cities and in many towns in this colony, and very conspicuously so in the Australian capitals, where the public reading rooms are thronged with young men chiefly of the artisan class, and the opportunity of obtaining the best technical education up to date is largely availed of. We could venture to point out to the members of the Athenaeum as a body that they havo nothing to lose but everything to gain by tho conversion of the institution into a public library. The taking out of books will remain a special privilege to be enjoyed for a much smaller fee than at present. ' There will certainly be much improved accommodation and a larger field of selection. There are really only a few frequenters of the institution who would be the least disturbed or put out by the change. The persons, possibly, who seem permanently to camp in the newspaper and magazine rooms may object to their learned leisure being impinged upon by desultory crowds, eager for political and other information ; whilst there will scarcely be the present conveniences for private correspondence and magazine commentaries. Out of .the 900 subscribers, those of this class may be counted on one's fingers. We hope that among the large majority public spirit will prevail.