LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 23817, 22 February 1941, Page 9

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

AN AID TO EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT OF BOOK HABIT Speaking on the subject ‘ Tlio Library and the School,’ at tho concluding session of the New Zealand .Library Association’s conference last night, Miss A. K. Elliot (Timaru) and Miss D. M. Neal (Dunedin)' both gave highly interesting addresses. Miss A. At. Blackett (Wanganui) presided over a largo attendance of librarians and teachers. Miss Elliot’s study was on ‘ The School-Comes to the Library.’ Alter tracing the requirements for the best juvenile library, she instanced the case of children who found their school readers boring, and who only . discovered the pleasure of reading through the public library. A seven-year-old could be encouraged to come to the library for facts, and this was the very {nimble origin of the excellent habit of referring to reliable books for information. “ The benefits of the school coming to the library,” Miss Elliott added, “ are the development of the library habit from primary to secondary school, and up to the adult, and the fact that the library is a place away from school and so enlarges the pupils’ world. Patri spoke wisely when he said: 1 Let us scatter real books about the child. Let him grow in an atmosphere of friendliness, of helpfulness, of culture. The book has been and will continue to be a powerful force in our lives. The reason for this dominance of the book is simple. The men and women who count most, who aspire to leadership, who command respect, who have judgment—these will always bo the men and' women who turn to the best books of the ages to sharpen their minds and quicken their souls by touching the bedrock of human knowledge. Let us, therefore, have juvenile libraries, and even more libraries to the end that wc may have citizens who will keep themselves intellectually fit—worthy of our nation’s responsibility, opportunity, and promise.’ ” THE OTHER SIDE. Miss Neal discussed the matter from the angle of the library being brought to the school. “ The idea of the Dunedin Juvenile Library,” she said, ” is the sending of hampers of hooks to schools rather than in bringing children to the library. The library service to children in New Zealand to-day is nothing like it should he, and a big development is necessary. It has been a long accepted idea that the books children read in schools should not be exciting, and this is quite wrong, if the new freedom idea in education is to be successful it is necessary to have hooks. Children must live with books. Much as librarians like to have attractive children’s'books kept about them, it is much bettor to have them in the schools themselves.” Miss Neal went on to deal with the Otago school library scheme, and described its development in the past three or four years. The Otago Education Board was in process of linaueing a library scheme for rural schools throughout Otago. To begin with it was- supplying books to children from Standard IV. upwards, and the hampers of books that were being received were of great value to teachers and children alike. This pattern could be followed in other parts of New Zealand. The Otago Education Board spent 10s on each child in the scheme, and it was to be congratulated on its work. An interesting discussion was opened by Mrs J. Williams (Lower Hutt City), and several speakers gave their views on the school and the library. AFTERNOON SESSION. Another interesting session for those associated with schools and. libraries was held in the afternoon when the schools’ section of the asociation met under the chairmanship of Air H. P. Kidson. The subject was ‘ Books for the School Library—What to Choose and How to Buy.’ The speakers were Aliss N. Bragg, Dr Basil Howard, and Miss E. F. Turner, each of whom gavu instructive addresses on different aspects of the subject. ANNUAL MEETING. At the annual meeting of the association Ur G. H. Scholeiield presided. The annual report and statement of accounts were adopted. The election of office-bearers of the association resulted as follows:—Patron, the Prime Alinister, Air Peter Fraser; president, Air W. C. Prosser (Rangi ;- ora) ; vice-presidents—Aliss E. Alelvillo (Auckland). Alcssrs J. Barr (Auckland), A. G. W. Dunningham (Dunedin), W. J. Gaudin (Wellington), and H. C. D. Somerset (Ecilding) ; council —Miss A. K. Elliot (Timaru), Professor W. A. Sowell (Auckland), Alcssrs G. T. Alley (Wellington), E. B. Ellcrm (Auckland), J. Harris (Dunedin),

A. L. Low (New Plymouth), I). H. Monro (Auckland), and C. U. H. Taylor (Wellington) ; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr J. Nome (Wellington); hon. assistant secretary and treasurer, Mr C. S. Perry (Wellington) ; hon. counsel and solicitor, Mr J. O’Shea (■Wellington) ; hon, auditor, Mr B. 0. Peterson (Wellington) ; hon. editor, Mr C. S. Perry. A notice ol motion by the Hamilton Library that the question of formulating a scheme for indenting books and magazines for all libraries belonging to the association bo referred to the council for consideration and report was also carried. A further motion was carried that in view' of the difficulties the association had had in obtaining satisfactory buying terms with the booksellers, the conference request the Municipal Conference to consider the matter, with a view to obtaining a definite contract with the New Zealand Booksellers’ Association. A lengthy discussion took place on a scheme for granting a degree in librarianship. so that librarians might acquire a university professional status, and it .was finally decided, on the motion of Professor W. A. Sewell, that in connection with training and examining in librarianship the Standing Committee of the council be asked to name three of its members to consult with three representatives of the University Senate to determine the possibility of co-operation between the university and the Library Association in this matter.