MONEY FOR LIBRARIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22261, 8 November 1935, Page 12

MONEY FOR LIBRARIES

HIGHER RATE WANTED CITY COUNCIL PROPOSAL A proposal that the maximum library rate which a local body can levy be increased from Id to 2d in the pound is contained in a remit which tho Auckland City Council is forwarding for consideration by the Municipal Conference to be held early next year. The draft of tho remit, which was submitted by tho .chief librarian, Mr. John Barr, provided for an increase in tho maximum rate to 3d. Ho said tho present penny rate had proved totally insufficient to maintain a satisfactory service, it was folly to allow libraries to be established and then prohibit tho raising of sufficient money to enable them to function satisfactorily. Abolishing the rate limit would do no more than give committees freedom to decide for themselves what sum should bo spent on tho upkeep of their libraries. No other department of municipal activity was restricted in this way and there was no reason why libraries should bo uingled out for such treatment, said Mr. Barr. England's experience demonstrated that no extravagance had followed tho elimination of tho rate restriction. With tho limited financial resources which New Zealand libraries now possessed only tho most elementary service could bo provided Many of them could offer no more than a lending section and a reading room poorly stocked with books and periodicals. Children's rooms and reference departments were necessities and until these departments were, established it could not be stated that a community was providing its citizens with a properlyequipped public library. On tho suggestion of the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, it was decided to ask for a maximum rate of 2d as it was agreed that this would make adequate provision for tho future and that there was more chanco of getting tho remit through than if tho higher rate was asked for.