Gisborne Library.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 172, 21 July 1888, Page 2

Gisborne Library.

The annual meeting of the subscribers to the J Gisborne Library was held on Thursday evening, in the reading room. Only a few of tbe members attended. Mr G. L. Greenwood was proposed to tbe chair, and the usual formal business was disposed of (the report has already been published). Mr Coleman remarked on the principle of charging a fee for admittance to the reading room. He should like, if it were possible, to see the room again made free. He acknowledged there were obstacles in the way, but as the financial position of the institution was now much better than it had been, they might be able to give the readers free access to the room. Mr Lncas said no one would like more than himself to see the reading room thrown open, and he had hopes that at that meeting they would have been able to devise some plan by which they would be enabled to again give fiee access to the room; but on thinking over the matter, and considering the state of their finances, he came to the conclusion that tbe time had hardly arrived when they could wisely do so. The present experiment had only had a short trial, and it might be given a longer trial before any change were made. Readers were only asked for payment of a small sum for much greater benefits received, and it was but reasonable those persons should give a small contribntion towards keeping the institution out of debt. Mr Coleman had remarked that they were in a better financial position, but the Treasurer would tell them that they were not altogether clear of debt yet. He pointed out that the same thing was done in Napier and Wellington. He hoped in a short time they would be able 1 to make the room free, but he did not oonsidsr—they were justified in doing so yet. Mr Kenny thought many of those who contended the room should be free were not aware of the difficulties of the position. There was not a member on the Committee who would not desire that free access should be given to the public, if it were possible to do so, but it could only be done by ceasing to get fresh supplies of books. To get them at present it was necessary that some member* of the Committee should take a personal liability on themselves. The income at present was not sufficient for their needs—it had always to be supplemented with entertainments of one sort or another. To disoontinue the fees would simply mean that instead of being able to get £25 worth of books they would either be unable to get any books or get so small a number that it would be of no use. People that name into the reading-room and saw the wholesome literature that was available might thus ba induced to become members themselves. The sum at present derived from the reading-room was very email —about £l2 a year—but that amount would be likely to increase, and even at present wag exactly sufficient to meet the expenditure that had to be incurred on periodicals. Consider, ing that the Committee had always to take a certain amount of responsibility on itself in order to provide books, and also the other circumstances, it was hardly reasonable to ask that admission to the reading-room should be altogether tree. He had considered the matter very carefully, and he believed that it would not be possible at the present time to throw the room open without some very great inconvenience to subscribers. If they got a grant from Government he would be glad that the room should be made free at the earliest possible moment. Their present position was a gratifying one, but they must remember that they had still a very narrow income to rely on. The Chairman said it was very clearly shown from the balance-sheet that the institution was not self supporting—they had to rely on special efforts, and as had been pointed out the Committee had to make themselves pertonally liable when supplies of new books J were being obtained. No doubt support had been cheerfully accorded, and he beliered that a great number of those who became subscribers to ths reading-room were thoroughly content, and had the satisfaction of thinking that they were contributing to the institution instead of depending on the contributions of others. There were perhaps some who did not like the change, but he did not think many objected to it. He sympathised with Mr Coleman’s ideas, because there were perhaps some who oould not afford even the small amount that was asked. However, until the institution became self supporting, they would have to be very careful. J Mr Featon (Treasurer) mentioned that the 1 expenditure on insurance had been much A he tvier this year. fl The Ven. Archdeacon Williams moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, and expressed himself pleased that so many outstanding accounts had been paid off. If more people could be induced to become subscribers there was no doubt the institution would attain a satisfactory position. Mr Kenny seconded, and drew attention to the expenditure that was made on periodical*, for the benefit of those who attended the reading room. He also observed that their being able to clear up outstanding debts wag mainly due to the success of the Exhibition, and he would like, as an individual, to express their thanks to Mr Lucre for the great assistance rendered by that gentleman in getting up the Exhibition. It certainly would not have been anything like the success it was but for the zealous way in which Mr Lucas applied himself to the task, working night and day for a long period of time. The Chairman heartily endorsed Mr Kenny’s remarks, and the report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of office-bearers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows: — President, Mr A. Graham; Vice-President, Mr Greenwood; Committee, Messrs Bourke Featon, Lucas, D. Johnston, Watson, Coleman, and Kenny. Mr W. A. O’Meara was re-elected Audior, Mr Featon expressing his thanks at th* obliging way in which the Auditor always suited himself to any time that would be convenient to the speaker. Mr Lucas moved a vote of thank* to the Librarian for the way he had performed hi* duties, and made some remark* very complimentary to Mr Hamblett. The motion was seconded by Mr Johnston and unanimously approved of. At a subsequent meeting of the committee Messrs Lucas and Featon were re-elected to the respective positions of Secretary and Treasurer.