NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Evening Star, Issue 14002, 8 March 1909, Page 1

NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY.

[Special to the Star.]

A ,„„f TIMARU, March 8. PrLr v f CnCC :y a \ hdd m Timavu on lndar between the Borough Council and the Committee of the Mechanics l n itute regarding the taking over by the fonS of the Institute preparatory'to the opening of the new Public Library. The conbuilding regime, that the present librarv build.ng and site should be handed over ? ™ e Council, and* an amount equal to the valuation set upon them bv valuers appointed by the parties spent in 'equipping and stocking the new The ™ Mr Craigie) said that in order to render the circnTating library free to the greatest rhf SSnV mb 6* V as dccided «tend „° d r efamt i on ,,°. f »t«Wer to include rentSs«'~ nd lhls ™" l s me *n that about * u P f ° ns . would be entitled to take out books. AYi- extensive stock of books Mould ho required to supply the needs of such a number, a „d |, e suggested that half ?, Jif u Valu V°. f ' the Institute property ( - b ]> C i h Jl? an t'e3*ted would be set down as £1,500 or £2,000) should be expended at once in equipping the library and addtute, while the balance of the monev mi>ht be invested and spent at the rat* of £loo per annum in adding to the. stock of books, ■the mayor .sard he wished to see; the library made accessible to evervone, and it seemed hard that the width of a halfchain street should.debar people from the privilege of taking books from the-library. He suggested that-a-separate subscriberslibrary should be-established in a room in the new library,, rented for the purpose volumes could, he. provided for £SOO. and he would himself donate £IOO i the public .would subscribe ±«SW: It would be. good business for the Council to furnish the other £2OO. He suggested as an alternative that people Other than rate or rent payers of the borough should pay an annual subscription, of, say, -10s for the right to participate in the privileges of the circulating department.. The mayor's offer was commented on most favorably, but the opinion was that the second proposal' Mas more practicable. It ■ was agreed that the Council should .take .oyer the Institute inrmed''ately after it had been valued, and the meeting concluded.