FREE LIBRARIES

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1938, Page 11

FREE LIBRARIES

“TIME NOT YET OPPORTUNE” The view that the time is not yet opportune for the establishment of free municipal libraries in New Zealand was expressed by Sir Cecil Leys (newspaper proprietor), at the annual meeting of the Leys Institute The past year had witnessed a marked shrinkage in subscribers to the city and branch libraries, due almost exclusively to the activities of commercial lending libraries which operated in the city under the title of book clubs, but any proposal to combat their influence by making municipal .libraries entirely free had to be regarded at the present stage as premature. “These book clubs in the city are advantageously placed to serve business people,” Sir Cecil said, “and, although they are not able to offer the selection obtainable in our library and in spite of the fact that the cost to the regular, reader is much higher, they have built up an extensive commercial connection.” Sir Cecil said that most New Zealand librarians had studied library methods in the United States and England at the expense of the >-arnegie Corporation. In most of these libraries the issue of books was free to the ratepayer, but in many cases the libraries had considerable endowments from wealthy citizens and were not wholly on municipal funds. In considering the possibility of free library services in New Zealand it had to be remembered that books here cost 50 to 100 per cent, more than they aid in England and the United States. Thus tne stocking of a library was an expensive matter and the introduction of a free lending system would probably result in Lhe doubling of library rates. Everyone, either directly or indirectly would contribute to that taxation, but it did not follow that everyone would benefit in equal proportion. Mr G. E. Read said the introduction of the free library system would be a serious matter for the Leys Institute Library, which could not be run without subscriptions. The support of the Leys and Upton families over such a long period had been so valuable that its loss would be calamitous.

Mr G. Grant, the City Council’s representative on the committee, said the Leys Institute was regarded so highly by the council that nothing would be done to jeopardise its future.