CRITICISM OF LIBRARIES

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 28 March 1935, Page 5

CRITICISM OF LIBRARIES

COMMENT IN REPORT RESENTED DISCUSSION AT CONFERENCE (By TcJegrapn —f*i.ass Association.) TIMARU, March 27. An emphatic protest at what he considered unfair comment on Christchurch suburban libraries, particularly Linwood, was voiced by Mr A. Rrettell at the annual conference of the New Zealand Libraries Association to-day. Mr Brettell made the remarks while a report on New Zealand libraries, compiled by Mr Ralph Munn, who was sent to New Zealand by the Carnegie Corporation for the purpose, and Mr J. Barr, Auckland city librarian, was under discussion. Mr Brettell contended that the report practically maligned the Linwood library, which asked what action the association was going to take. Neither Mr Munn nor Mr Barr had visited the library ,and he failed to see where they obtained the information. Mr C. Perry rose to a point of order, and said that as l the time for discussion was limited it should be confined to the broader principles ot the report. He suggested that each speaker be limited to five minutes. This brought a spirited protest from Mr Brettell, who said such a proposal should have been put forward at the beginning of the conference. It appeared as if the smaller libraries were to have no say. He said the paragraph in the report relating to Linwood was featured with bold headlines in the newspapers, giving an erroneous conception of New Zealand libraries, and he asked what the association was going to do to give the correct impression.

In reply Mr Barr said he was sorry Mr Brettell saddled Mr Munn with the responsibility. It was a joint report. The speaker accepted the joint responsibility. In a general statement they made reference which perhaps could be taken in a particular sense. Linwood deserved generous credit for what it had done in library work. Mr Munn and he were not unmindful of this work, but they had a certain standard, and they wanted libraries to approximate to that standard. If they erred it was an error of judgment, and not of responsibility, and they certainly had no intention of belittling anyone. They did what they thought was in the best interests of libraries in the Dominion.

Mr Brettell accepted the fexplanotion.