PUBLIC LIBRARY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10073, 11 September 1918, Page 6

PUBLIC LIBRARY

COMPLAINTS AND AN" ANSWER. Severn 1 complaints in regard to tho Public Library are made by a correspondent who lias written to the "Now Zealand Times. ’’ The correspondent questions tho right of tho authorities to close tho library at 1.30 p.m. on Saturdays as from September Tth, This ho claims must seriously inconvenience many people who were in the - habit of changing their books on Saturdays. Tho correspondent also calls tho attention of tho library committee to the miserable collection of books in the novel department. There are in some cases hall a dozen copies by some authors who Pro never read. Some of the books, he states, are filthy to handle, aud are disfigured with writing. Tho complaints were put before the chairman of tho library committee of the City Council (Mr M. F. Luckie) and the City Council’s librarian (Mr 11. llaillio. Mr Luokie explained that tho alteration of the hours on Saturday was notified to tho general public three months before it was brought into operation. Tho library committee considered that tho attendants at the library were working long and unsatisfactory hours, and it would bo desirable to give them the Saturday afternoon free. Tho public wouldy bo inconvenienced no doubt to a certain extent, but could change their books on Friday night. Mr Baillie explained that ho had to give his assistants, who were mostly all girls, a half-holiday a week. It must bo remembered that the library was open every night till 9 p.m. As an employer tho council had surely to have some consideration for its employees. On an average tho girls worked 42 hours a week. As to tho complaint about the novel section. Mr llaillio pointed out that it was inevitable that the unpopular novels should be left lying on the shelves and the popular ones always out. They had to please all tastes, and at tho same time see that the popular novels were in good supply. This they endeavoured to do. There was no advantage in having a largo supply of unpopular books. As to tho condition of the books it was inevitable that they should become soiled; some members of the library took euro of the books while others did not. There was a general instruction to the attendants that any very dirty .books returned were to bo put on ono side and destroyed. It was impossible to stop people writing on tho hooks. The critic often wished to record his opinion on tho margin, and who was to prevent him? Mr llaillio said ho was as anxious as anyone to sec that the books were not disfigured in any way.