HAWERA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 18 September 1934, Page 2

HAWERA PUBLIC LIBRARY

ISSUE OF NEW BOOKS

ONE TO EACH SUBSCRIBER,.

Although tlije ,Committee recommended that country subscribers be limited to three books (instead of four) and one magazine, and town ■subscribers to two books (instead of three) -and one magazine, .the council at its monthly meeting last evening resolved that no restriction be placed on issues but that (1) no subscriber shall be entitled to have more than one new book in his or her possession at a time and (2) such new book to be returned within seven days. The difficulty which the committee sought, to overcome was the complaint by many subscribers of the absence from the library in circulation of alj or most of the new works of fiction.

Recommendations submitted for approval by the council were as follow: (1) That a place b e set apart and suitably labelled for new books (up to six months) and that such book's be returnable within seven days; (2) that country members he limited to three books and one magazine and town members to two books and one magafiine, also that the library by-law No. 30 (relative to new books of fiotion) be adhered to and that the .preparation of a circular letter to subscribers in regard to the observance of the bylaw respecting the number of books to be issued to subscribers be left in the hands of the chairman and the librarian.

It was proposed by Or. W. G. Strange seconded by Or. W. R. Butler that the report be adopted. As chairman of th© Library Committee, Or. E. K. Cameron spoke in support of the motion and said that from time to time complaints had been made by subscribers that they wer© unable to secure any of the new books placed on the shelves, and this in spite of the fact that upwards of 100 and more new works of fiction were placed in' circulation every month. This question had been, discussed with th© chief librarian at the Wellington public library during his recent visit to Hawera and as a means of expediting circulation it was recommended that a place be set aside in the library especially for new books up to six months of date of purchase. At present, country subscribers were entitled to four books and a magazine, and town subscribers to three books and a magazine with 14 days for reading. It was felt that by reducing the number of books issued and limiting the reading time for new books to seven days, the new books would circulate much more quickly. Th was pointed out that the new book section in the libraries of other towns had proved most successful and this innovation, together with the shorter time for reading, undoubtedly would be a service appreciated 'ey the great majority of readers. "Mr L. H. dapham.; Is it possible for a subscriber to take cut none tut new books?

The Mayor (Mr J. E. Campbei’), who presided: Yes; a country sub ■scriber can go to Lie library and take away four new books. That is probably the reason why there are so many complaints. Mr A. K. North said he was soiry to have to join issue with the committee of which he was a member on this matter hut he thought it would be a retrograde step to limit the issue of books as suggested. It would certainly cause a great deal of dissatisfaction. He instanced the case of a married couple with only two books to read during a weekend. “Why, quite frequently I read two books myself and my record on a wet Sunday is three,” declared Or North. “The first suggestion of setting aside a special place in the library for new books is an excellent one, but the second suggestion is, in my opinion, extremely dangerous.” The Mayor: Even if we do restrict the number of issues per week to three for country readers and two foi town readers don’t you think that is giving good service for £1 Is a year? Or North: Yes, if we had the people subscribing whom one would expect to be members and could well afford to pay more. Th© trouble is we have not those people and the suggestion to limit the number of books would only-inflict a hardship. Or A. Reid; I am of the opinion that there should be some method of restricting the (issue of new books without affecting the total allowed in each instance. Or. Olapham pointed out that the difficulty was with the issue of new hooks and not the total number allowOr. W. Gr. Walkley : Why not follow Or. Reid £ s suggestion and limit the issue of new books to, say, ci per subscriber? The motion proposed by Or Strange for the adoption of the report and the recommendations was passed with the exception of the last recommendation which, on the motion of Cr North, was amended to read: (1) That no subscriber be entitled to have in his or her possession more than one new book at a time and (2) that such new book be returned in seven da vs.