THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29, 1913. PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 29 October 1913, Page 2

THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29, 1913. PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Foe some months past negotiations, of a kind, have been under way between the Library Trustees and the Town Hoard in regard to the latter body taking control of the institution. Little of a definite nature appears to have been the outcome until the Hoard meeting of last week, although it was previously agreed to have the Library vested in the Board if the Trustees saw fit to follow this course. The letter before the Board at last meeting acknowledged the Board's willingness to accept control, but wished to know exactly what would be done in regard to upkocp, etc, in the event of the institution being handed over. The Board's position was then defined in that no pledge could be given at present as to what financial responsibility could be undertaken, and that the library would be carried on under the present voluntary system. The Chairman mentioned names of responsible persons who wouldv carry out the duties of librarian and open the library on certain afternoons and evenings ; and and he went on to say that if the Library Trustees were not prepared to trust the Board in the matter they had better keep control themselves. Last year members' subscriptions totalled £9 Os 6d, leceipts by way of donations, etc £9 os Od ; the Government subsidy amounted to £7 8s 9d, whilst other amounts for rent made a total of £31 2s Id The number of subscribers during the year was 34. It is quite evident that the institution is not the power for good in the district that it should be, judged by the paucity of subscibers. but whether there : would be any marked improvement if owned by the ratepayers pud controlled by the Board is merely a matter of conjecture. If a lot of money were spent on '■ sound literature and the library open daily, as a library and ■ reading room should be, there ; would certainly be a much ; larger number of members than ' at present. The Board, however, if duly appointed the con- < trolling authority, can be ; reasonably expected to manage same to the best advantage, as <

they do with other municipal undertakings. The only question now is : Are the Library Trustees satisfied with the vague proposals put forward by the Town Board ?