LIBRARIANS CONFER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19558, 10 February 1927, Page 12

LIBRARIANS CONFER.

READING FOR THE SETTLERS,

CREATING AN INTEREST.

PARLIAMENTARY INSTITUTION.

I' [BY TELEGRAPH • -OWN CORESPONDENT.]

WANGANTJI, Wednesday

The suggestion that the New Zealand Parliamentary Library should be a national library ran largely for the benefit nf primary producers, so tfcat helpful hooks of reference could be distrbuted to them, was made by Mr. John Barr, chief librarian of tfc.a Auckland Public Library at the New Zealand Libraries conference at Wanganui to-day-Mr. M. H, Oram, of Palmerston North, endorsed Mr. Barr's suggestion, and said he believed the distribution of works of reference among primary producers was a work of national importance. Dr. G. H. Scholefield, Parliamentary librarian, described the policy of the library. During the sessions of Parliament no outsiders had access to the collection, but during recess £ooks were sent out, on request, to members. Nonfiction books were lent to some 900 privilege holders in Wellington, who were recommended by members of Parliament. The policy of conduct of the Parliamentary library had been fixed long ago by Parliament, and he would be a rash man wfc-> would attempt to overthrow it. However, he was in favour of the principle of widening the area -over which books were distributed during recess. Position o* Turnbull Library, Mr. J. Anderson, of the Turnbull Library, said books in his library wgro in a different category from those of the Parliamentary Library. The Turnbull collection could only be consulted lay callers at the library. As for education of primary producers he believed many of them did not want to be educated. If they did want books their representa* tives in Parliament would get them for them. . Similarly many adults did not want further education from books. It was among the younger generation that the best and most conscientious readers were now appearing.

Mr. Barr said there was a danger that the Parliamentary Library would become simply an ineffective j substitute for a national library, such as there was in New South Wales. Mr. E. J. Bell, of Christchurch, said endeavours to furnish good and literature to country subscribers in Canterbury had not met with an encouraging reception. Mr. J. F. Arnold, of Timaru, said he believed that the extension of the functions, of the Parliamentary Library was desirable. There were 100,000 volumes in the library and 50 per cent, would never be missed by members even if they were out all through* session. Mr. W. Brock, of Christchurch, agreed with Mr. Arnold that there would be little chance of accomplishing anything at present. He said he believed the principle of sending reference books into the country was admirable, but they had first to create a demand. At present country people seemed more interested in light fiction.

Availability of Volumes. The president, Miss Melvijle, of Auckland, said she thought the conference should be able to educate the public to a demand for informative works. ' There Wa3 no justification for so valuable a collection of books to be locked up outside the reach of all but a favoured few who happened to live in Wellington. It was the duty of the State and not of municipalities to supply reference books to country people.. Mr. J. Nome, of the Leys Institute, Ponsonhy, said the association had been trying since 1911 to effect an extension of the functions of the Parliamentary Library. He thought it would be preferable to endeavour to serve country readers by getting aid from the Carnegie Institute. The election of officers resulted as follows :—President, Mr. J. J. Clarke (Dunedin); vice-presidents, Miss E. Melville (Auckland) and Messrs. L. A. Eady (Auckland), J. H. Darby (New Plymouth), I. F. Arnold (Timaru), J. Burns (Wellington), L. Ri Wood (Canterbury), also the chairmen of the library committees at Palmerston North and Invercargill; executive committee. Miss Blackett (Wanganui), Miss Culverwell (Timaru) 'and Messrs. J. C. Andersen (Wellington), J Barr (Auckland), E. J. Bell (Christchurch), H. B. Farnall flnvercargill) and W. B. McEwan (Dunedin). The next conference will be held at Christchurch in February, 1923. *