OUT-DATED FILES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25179, 17 April 1945, Page 7

OUT-DATED FILES

LIBRARY CRITICISED REPLY BY MR J. BARR "The newspaper room seems to be merely a repository lor out-dated files," states a correspondent in a letter to the Hkhald, 'in which he strongly criticises certain features of the Auckland Public Library. He says that the Auckland library was once in the forefront of New Zealand libraries, but contends that those at Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin are now superior. Discussing the newspaper room, the correspondent says that at noon on April 2 there were no South Island newspapers filed of more recent date than March 24. The latest Wellington newspapers available were those for March 27. "The mails hardly can be blamed, as the smaller centre of Whangarei can do better than this," he adds. "Several servicemen have commented scathingly to me on the antiquity of the files." The correspondent also comments upon the lighting in the reference department. He describes it as being "so feeble as to menace the eyesight of any ifter alter nightfall." The city librarian, Mr J. Barr, said that a member of the library staff collected the newspapers from the Wellesley Street Post- Office twice daily. They were immediately marked off on the records and placed on the files. "Any delay that takes place is not our responsibility," lie added. Lighting throughout the library was periodically checked. When new bulbs were fitted, a record of the date was kepi, and they were removed after being in use for a certain period. They were not kept until they died out.