SELWYN COLLEGE LIBRARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12006, 1 April 1901, Page 6

SELWYN COLLEGE LIBRARY.

' TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—When visiting Dunedin a few weelrt ago I was told that there was a valuable and interesting library belonging tp Selwyn College. The first time that I went there it was closed, and no one in charge. I found afterwards that the key was to have been found " lying, in the grass" outside the door and within a few feet of the street! I understand that the librarv was left on the condition (inter alia) that the books should be ■ placed in a stone or brick building specially built to receive them. This, I believe, was done. The building, however, in which they have been placed has. living rooms on the ground floor, and three bedrooms lead from the library itself. When I was there'the bedrooms were empty, but in an undesirable condition of dirt and untidiness. Tlio bulk of tho books are in a long room, and the rarer ones in a smaller room leading from it. Both rooms were ■ carpetless and quite unfurnished with the exception, of a deal table and, I think, two chairs. The books appeared never to have been dusted, were arranged in no kind of order, and the, so-called, catalogue was worse than none at all. That I nm not overstating 1 the case I think- you will admit when I fay that one work is put down as having been printed in 1433. If the library is left in its present state for a fow years more its value will have depreciated by 50 per cent. Though only a visitor to New Zealand, I am writing in the hope that a paner possessing the circulation and influence of the Otago Daily Times may be able to remedy such an unsatisfactorynot to say disgraceful, state of things.—l'am, etc., H. D. Hanxex. Ashburton, England. [We considered it only right to refer the above letter to Mr Neild, the warden of'Selwyn College, who has just returned from England. Ho informs us that the library was closed after the students left for the vacation in October last. The key was, however, obtainable at the warden's house if Mr Hannen had inquired there. The fact of its having been found in tho grass on the occasion of Mr Hanneu's second visit was due to its having been left there by one student for the i convenience of another. Mr Neild further says that as Mr Hannen will have visited the librarv towards the close of the vacation it would certainly present a dusty appearanca at the time of tho visit, but it is, he affirms, "absurd and untrue" to say that the books appeared never to havo been dusted or that the bedrooms were in on indescribable condition of dirt and untidiness. The library has just been cleaned up for the session. Mr Neild admits that the catalogue is unsatisfactory. It was comnilcd before he came, and be is about to undertake the preparation of another one. As to the library being carpetless. etc., he says the state of its- funds prevents its being better furnished—Ed. O.D.T.]