SESSIONS OPEN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 63, 15 February 1939, Page 9

SESSIONS OPEN

LIBRARY CONFERENCE. WIDESPREAD ACTIVITIES. GRANT FROM AMERICA. With about seventy delegates in attendance, the business sessions of the New Zealand Library Association conference -were officially opened in St. Andrew's Hall at Palmerston North, today, by the Mayor (Mr A. E. Manstord), after which the presidential address was delivered by Mr T. D. H. Hall, C.M.G., ot Wellington, who was in the chair. The delegates present are Messrs C. 11. H. Taylor (Alexander Turnbull Library), J.* Uarr and K. Armstrong (Auckland Public Library), G. T. Alley, M.A. (Country Library Service and Beaumont Public Library), D. It. I Ruff (Canterbury Agricultural College), E- J. Bell (Canterbury Public Library), C. W. Collins, M.A. (Canterbury University College), G. W. I Mitchell and H. Lorimer (Country j Library Service), A. G. W. Duni ningham (Dunedin Public Library). It. ! \V. H. Wood (Eeilding Municipal 1 Librarv), E. W. l>onovan (lluiuerIville Public Library), H. B. Earnall i (Invercargill Public Library), E. B. i Eilerm (Leys Institute, Auckland), F. A. Sandall," B.A. (Massey College), A. L. Low (New Plymouth Public Library), W. J. Harris, B.A. (Otago University), J. W. Sturton (Pahiatua), A. G. A. Baigent, M.A. (Palmerston North Boys' High School), \V. G. Black and H. Greenwood (Palmerston North Municipal Library), N. A. Frye M.A. (Palmerston North Technical School), J- It. Ciochetto (Raetitu Public Library), W. C. Prosser (Rangiora Public Library), F. E. Miles, M.A., and H. G. Miller, M.A. (Victoria University College), E. J. Bell (Canterbury Public Library), J. Scott (Wanganui Public Library), W. J. Gaudin, L. W. McKenzie, J. Norrie, C. S. Perrv and W. Scoullay (Wellington Public Libraries). H. C. D. Sommerset and A. S. Hely (Workers' Education Association), Dr. S. C. Allen (New Plymouth Public Library), Dr. G. M. L. Lester (Canterbury Public Library); Mesdames E. L. Christian (Palmerston North), M. E. Storkey (Napier), I. Gifford (Motueka), Finch (Whangarei). 5. M. Williams (Lower Hutt), M. Whitaker (Levin), G Sommerset (Feilding Agricultural High School), 0. Z. Skipper (Hastings), M. L. West (Fairlie), M. V. Collins (Dannevirke); Misses E. Melville (Auckland), E. A. Minchin (Auckland University College). A. Woodhouse (Alexander Turnbull Library), L. It. Callaway and L. It. Cuff (Canterbury University), S. M. Moriarty (Department of Industries and Commerce), M. L. Cunliffe (Greymouth), B. Manning (Hamilton), H. C. Carson (Hawera), M. Collins (Whangarei). M. S. Fleming. M.A. (Otago University), E. F. Turner, M.A. (Palmerston North Girls' High Scholo), J. Bligh (Palmerston North Library), V. M.~ Atchiey (Taumarunui), H. Bell (Te Awamutu). A. K. Elliot (Timaru), E. Glenn and A. M. Blackett (Wanganui), D. G. Bihby (Wellington), and S. Allen (New Plymouth). In the course of his remarks (which are reported elsewhere in this issue), Mr Hall paid a tribute to the work of the secretary (Mr J. Norrie). "I should say how much I and the association generally are indebted to him, a.nd to the council as a whole, for the ability and enthusiasm applied to the problems of the year. "I would mention two things; first, the remarkable and exhilarating progress of the Country Library Service under the beneficent and enthusiatic direction of our patron, Hon. P. I Eraser, and under the immediate control of Mr Alley. Mr Alley has brought to his task great gifts and an unexpected specialised knowledge of rural library needs in Ne.w Zealand. The second matter is the generosity of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, which has crowned its previous great benefactions to the library movement in New Zealand by making a grant to the Library Association for its general purposes. We hope to make the association, as is the case in other countries, a fecal point for the co-ordination of library activities, the study of our special problems, and the release of energy for future progress. We have been given the means, and that act of confidence is a challenge. The experience of the older librarians and the enthusiasm of the younger recruits to the movement justify the hope that that confidence has not been misplaced." Mr Hall was accorded a vote of thanks on the motion of Miss Ellen Melville for his address. Messages conveying good wishes for a successful conference were received fiom the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), and the Minister of Education (Hon. P. Eraser), also, from IMr Ralph Munn, Director of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, United States. FINANCIAL AID. Reviewing a busy year, the annual report, submitted in the names of Mr Hall and Mr J. Norrie (lion, secretary) referred with regret to the recent death of Miss E. A. Chapliu, of Christchurch, whose advice, it stated, would bo missed. '"A matter of great satisfaction to all members has been the award of the Companionship of the Order of St. Michael and St. George to Mr Hall. It is particularly gratifying to know that the work of our president in the community in various capacities has b*eu recognised by the Government in this way," stated the report. '"The application for assistance which was sent forward in a revised form during the year to the Carnegie Corporation of New York was considered favourably, and as a result the sum of 29.700 dollars to cover a period of five years was appropriated to the association specifically for the furtherance of its programme. Shortly afterwards a cheque amounting in New Zealand money to £1751 12s 9d was received and banked on behalf of the association. Members have already been advised of the purposes to which the money is to be devoted.

“The possession of so large a sum and the increased scope of the work of the association are two factors which make it evident that it is inadvisable that we should continue as an unincorporated association. The committee on incorporation has already proceeded some distance, and it is probable that before long the .matter will he finalised. In this event we will ho able to enter into contracts in the same manner as any other corporate body, and to receive and disburse funds as a corporate entity without the necessity of the rather cumbrous trustee procedure at present in operation. “The Country Library Service, established in December, 1937, in response to a request to the Government by the association, was formally inaugurated ou May 30, 1935, by the

Prime Minister. TJie service has, it is understood, fulfilled and at some points exceeded the plan of development for the first year. Over 180 small country libraries, in all parts of New Zealand, are receiving regular loan supplies of looks from the library vans, and seventeen free public libraries, under the control of local authorities, are obtaining substantial free loans of books and periodicals. “The standing committee on school and children’s libraries (North Island) prepared during the year a questionnaire which was sent to all registered secondary and technical schools in New Zealand, intended to bring about a conference of teacher-librarians following the 1939 Education Conference in May. This conference has already boon arranged with the secretaries of tho secondary and technical schools associations. The school and children’s libraries committee in the South Island has prepared a buying list of picture books and easy reading material suitable for younger children. Both English and American titles have been included, and recommendation has been made to tho council that copies of the booklists issued by tho Junior Bookshelf magazine should be purchased for junior departments of libraries in the association. The particular title recommended has been purchased and is available at the conference.

"The committee on library training completed its report in October, 1937. It was considered at a meeting of the council. As the committee's recommendations involved a considerable expenditure of money which the association did not possess, the council agreed at its last meeting to postpono consideration of the report pending the results of the joint appeal which the association and the library group were formulating for submission to the Carnegie Corporation. The committee has met recently and has forwarded for the consideration of the council a recommendation that the committee .should be reconstituted in a manner that will enable representatives of libraries in all parts of New Zealand and of different types to be represented on it. "The committee on fiction policy made a survey and compiled a list of the recommended novel titles available in print in English. The list was presented to council and consists of: (1) Novels which have been important in the history of the novel in English; (2; translated novels; (3) modern novelists, English and American; (4) New Zealand and .Australian novelists; (5) popular novelists. "The standing committee on interlibrary co-operation continued its work on the scheme for inter-library lending, which is now well under way. Three projects are now before the committee : (1) Specialisation in periodicals of librarianship and bibliography, to increase the range available and to serve as a trial for extensive periodical specialisation later; (2) specialisation in fields of bibliography; and (3) specialisation in certain restricted subject fields, to increase the range of material available to New Zealand as a whole." The report was adopted on the motion of Air McKenzie, seconded by Miss Blackctt, The balance-sheet disclosed that the excess of assets over liabilities was £1991 14s Sd. Subsequently remits were dealt with, the first matters discussed being of a constitutional nature, and dealing with conference representation.