Lower Hutt Library

Hutt News, Volume XII, Issue 22, 10 November 1948, Page 7

Lower Hutt Library

INCREASE IN BORROWERS FIGURES FOR OCTOBER The librarian, Mrs. J. Williams, reported to the Lower Hutt City Council on Monday . night that 19,117 books were issued during October, compared with 19.080 in October last year. The total number of borrowers was 7041,, compared with 5257. At the Moera community branch library the number of books issued was 2030, compared with 805, and the total number of borrowers was 713, as against'l4l.

STAFF AT LIBRARY IS IT TOO LARGE? When the librarian’s report came up for consideration by the City Council Cr. F. Lonsdale said he mould like to know the size of the staff at the library. He knew of several commercial libraries in Lower Hutt which, with much, smaller staffs, were issuing more books than the municipal library. He considered the library, for which the Council had budgeted for a loss of £607)0 a year, was costing too much money for the number of hooks issued compared with other libraries.

The Town Clerk, 'Mr. T. G. Richardson, said the library staff totalled twelve —eleven at the main library and one at Moera.

The Mayor, Mr. E. P. Hay, and Crs. E. F. Rotliwell (chairman of the library committee) and H. V. Horlor considered that a municipal library was never looked upon as self-supporting, service to the community being the aim. The municipal library, the expansion of which had been carried out unden the advice and control of the National Library Service, was filling a cultural need for adults and children. Cr. H.- Burrell asked that information regarding the staffs at other libraries be obtained from the National Library Service, and this was agreed to.