TRAVELLING LIBRARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20496, 22 February 1930, Page 8

TRAVELLING LIBRARY.

BOOKS IN MOTOR-WAGGON.

VISITS TO THE SUBURBS..

SCHEME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL.

A travelling motor-library to supply books to areas of the city whero library facilities are-not yet available is the latest proposal of the Library Committee of the Citv Council. Miss E. Melville, chairman of the committee, informed the council last evening that, if the scheme was adopted a motor-waggon, stocked with a lending library, would visit such districts as A vpndale, St. Heliers Ray and Kohim.uama every alternate day. It would be lighted by electricity at night and the sidos would be opened to permit an inspection of tlio books by subscribers.

Details of tho scheme wove given after a letter had been received from tlio Tamaki Ratepayers' Association asking v. bother anything could be done to provide books or lihrary accommodation in the premises forinorly used by tho old Tamaki,Road Board at St. Heliers. The chief librarian, Mr. J. Barr, reported that the Library Committee had under consideration a travelling library which should meet all present requirements and be the most economical means of providing citizens in such districts as Tamaki and Avoudale with book facilities. Success in United States. " The motor-library is really like a travelling shop and will visit specified places at specified times," Miss Melville said. "It is reported upon very favourably in the United States, where it has been in use for some time, and although it, is in the nature of an experiment in New Zealand, wo have no doubt that ifc will work out very well indeed." Mr. A. J. Entrican: I suppose that it will visit theso districts about twice a week. Miss /Melville: Oh, no! On alternate days. Mr. Entrican: Well, I do not think that it will be a profitable scheme, nor will it give the satisfaction that a branch library and leading room would. Mr. J. Benuett said that he could not see/ himself supporting tho scheme, but would like the matter more fully considered. Miss Melville said that , the only reason tho coirimitteo suggested the scheme was because the council had already declined to authorise branch libraries at Tamaki and Avondale and tho people there were without, tho facilities provided elsewhere. " Failing the provision of libraries we feel that this; is the next best course," she said. Scheme Referred Back. Mr. /!'• Bloodworth said that buildings wore vacant at both Avondale and St. Heliers which could bo rented for the purpose of libraries. "It is a question whether tho committee's scheme would not be .rather a dangerous principle to establish," he added. "If the people of Avondale/can have their books brought' to their door why not the people of Grey Lynn and Ponsonby ?" Mr., E. J. Fhelan: As Parnell and Remuora have libraries so these people in the outer districts are entitled to havo them.

The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, said that he had, in mind for a library the old Jload Board office at St. Heliers. He did not know whether the committee had given consideration to that. Miss Melville : I am very glad to see. a change of opinion on the* matter of providing libraries in these districts, because our scheme iss simply our alternative to the requests of these people which tho council turned down. Chorus of Voices: Not this council; the old one.//

The committee's scheme was referred back for further consideration.