£5000 FOR LIBRARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20954, 18 August 1931, Page 8

£SOOO FOR LIBRARY.

OFFER TO UNIVERSITY.

CARNEGIE TRUST FUNDS.

SUM SPREAD OVER FIVE YEARS.

SPECIAL TRAINING FOR OFFICIAL. Advice that a grant of £SOOO, spread over five years, would probably be made available by the Carnegie Corporation, New York, for library extension at the Auckland University College, was received by the council of the college yesterday from the president of the corporation.

The letter stated that in 1928 the New Zealand University placed before the corporation an application for £20,000 to bring the libraries of the constituent colleges up to date No funds were then available for use in New Zealand, but :t was expected there would be funds in the next few years.

From past experience in Canada and the United States, a sudden acquisition of a large number of books often provided a burden unless a college was equipped with a thoroughly-trained librarian, continued the letter. Accordingly, the corporation would be glad to consider an application for a Carnegie Library Fellowship of £6OO for one year's study at a recognised school of library science, the person selected by tho college to proceed to America being possessed of a good scholastic record. The corporation suggested that, on the return of the trained librarian to the university, the trustees would consider an application for a grant of £IOOO a year for three years for the purchase of books for undergraduates reading in the fields of arts and sciences. 1 his would be made available on the understanding that the grant would not affect the usual provision made by tho University College for its library. Following this grant, a final application for £IOOO a year for two years would be considered.

"This is a very satisfactory offer and it should bring our library up to a high standard," said the president, Sir George Fowlds.

It was decided to write thanking the corporation for the offer and stating that the council would co-operato wholeheartedly with it. Sir George said that Miss A. E. Minchin, the college librarian, had expressed her willingness to undertake the year s course in the United States. Arrangements were left with the president.