THE AUCKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8585, 5 June 1891, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY.

TO THE EDIIOK. Siß,—lt is gratifying to the public of Auckland, and especially to its to read the letter signed "N.Z."in your con- ■ temporary last night, and to learn tliat some few are not inclined to let their property be rendered partially useless without a protest It is to say the least, most vexatious, to find the Public Licrary; which should in common with all such institutions, be continuouslyopen from ten a.m. to 10 p.m., closed for two hours each from five to seven p.m., especially as a special library rate is levied • for its maintenance. This library has already been the recipient of munificent bequests* both of money and books, and may be again, lithe present short-sighted policy does not prevent, but it cannot be satisfactory to know that your gifts are denied to the public * for one sixth of each day. -Possibly this may have been the reason that some valuable art books have been stored in an upper chamber, till a more liberal policy is inagurated. Yet some apologist stated that the Library-was closed on the score of "expense !" Would it not be better to cnrtail some of the expenditure in books, I say some, for the cost of the two hours gas and wages, must be very trifling , indeed, as it is hardly compatible with the business habits of Auckland citizens to buy books to furnish their Library, and then to close its doors for cne-sixth of each day. There is no * other Public Library that I am acquainted with that is so treated. The new Wellington Library is to be open from ten a.m.tofeu p.m., and to have moreover two special compartments for ladies and youths. 1 am given to understand that such an idea was at one time mooted here, to set aside a lower room for this purpose, and that a munificent patron oilered to provide suitable literature for it ■ and anyone who sees the youth and young women out in the Park during the school recess on wet days must see the great benefit which would result'in such a room. To treat the matter from a £ s. d. point of view, a sufficient saving in gas alone might be obtained to cover the extra cost of the two hours. Visitors in the evening can bear me out in the statement that the four central burners in the roof are useless for reading purposes. Xheyare ornamental, but might be left for more prosperous times. No one, can now see to read at the centre tables, but if the pendants in the several bays were brought forward to the front of each bay they would then afford ample light for both the bays and centre tables. The cost of this alteration would be only a few shillings, and the gas saved would pay for the extni two hours. A cursory inspection will be sufficient to prove this.—l am, etc., ILB June 4, 1891.