FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21967, 26 November 1934, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO

PUBLI6 LIBRARY BOOKS SELECTION criticised The unsatisfactory condition of the Public Library half a century ago was the subject of comment in the New Zealand Herald of November 26, 1884, which suggests necessary improvements. "The Provincial Council Library was , n, most excellent and well-selected one • and, for its size, was the best we have ever seen," the article stated. "It is * much better than the Public Library is now. The books from the old Mechanics' Institute were a poor lot. It is a fit subject for 'shame and derision' that, after the council have had the Public Library in hand for years, and having the splendid beginning of the Pro- . vincial Council Library, and having had handsome donations, it should be in .its present condition. The accession of books by,; the money derived from taxation consisted for the most part of such trash as Mrs. Henry Wood's novels, while huge blanks were left in all the nobler departments of literature and nothing was being done to aid any department /of technical education. '"'Our contentions are that to found % great Public Library a body having some continuity is required, consisting in part of men who should be familiar ■ with all the contents of the library; that special' knowledge is required of the constitution of libraries, of literaiure> of science and of art; and that men having these qualifications are not likely to seek election at the City Council."