PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19688, 15 January 1926, Page 3

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

CONFERENCE CONCLUDED. SOME INTERESTING PAPERS The conference of representatives of the public libraries of New Zealand was brought to a conclusion in the Town Hall yesterday, when Mr J. J. Clark (president) occupied the chair. OFFICE-BEARERS. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Miss Melville (Auckland); vice-presidents— Messrs J. J. Clark (Dunedin), John Burns (Wellington), Hope Gibbons (Wanganui), J. P. Arnold (Timaru); secretary and treasurer, Mr H. Baillie (Wellington); committee—Miss Blackett (Wanganui), Miss E. Culverwell (Timaru), Mr E. J. Bell (Christchurch), Mr J. C. Anderson (Wellington), Mr W. B. M'Ewan (Dunedin) Mrs John Barr (Auckland), and Mr H. B. Farnall (Invercargill). LIFE MEMBERS. The following honorary life’ mefnbers were elected:— Messrs Henry Shaw (Auckland), Charles Wilson (retiring parliamentary librarian), Hon. James Craigie, M.L.C. (Timaru), and Hon. Mark Cohen, M.L.C. (Dunedin). The conference extended a ’hearty welcome to the Hon. Mark Cohen, M.L.C., who thanked the association for electing him a life member, and assured it that, so far as his health would permit, he would work in the interests of the resuscitated body. Mr Cohen gave strong support to the school library scheme,. and expressed the hope that the Minister of Education would soon provide money for the libraries. They would do a great amount of good in inculcating in the young a love of healthy literature. Mr Cohen also spoke in support of national libraries, which should be assisted by the taxpayers. WELLINGTON SCHOOL LIBRARIES. A paper by Mr J. E. F. Perry 'librarian, Wellington Public Library) oi, "School Libraries in Wellington,” was read by Mr W. B. M'Ewan, in Mr Perry’s absence. The year 1908, said the writer, saw the birth of the idea of school libraries for Wellington, but it was not until 1908 that the scheme, with Miss Sievwright in charge was actually put into operation. It was started very quietly with one school. The year 1915 saw nine schools participating, the total books on loan being 3076. More and more schools had been admitted, and last year 31 schools, including three large secondary schools, were in receipt of 11, books, and the issues of the previous years’ books amounted to 155,460. The Wellington School Libraries scheme now supplied all the city and most of the sub • urban schools. These books were free, except in the case of some of the suburban schools which were situated outside the city’s boundaries, and, in their case, their particular municipal body paid a small sum for the privilege. The school libraries were supplied to all classes from Standard 111. upward, a separate collection of oooks being sent to each class. Last year the 34 schools supplied required 128 separate collections. With each set of books the teacher was supplied with a loose-leaf and card ledger, containing’ the names of all the books supplied, and on these cards particularly were kept of the names of pupils borrowing the books. The books were all sent out to the schools packed in boxes, petrol cases reinforced at each end, wire strapping being generally used. At the end of the year an estimate was obtained of the classes, the number of pupils in each class, and also whether the classes were mixed, or boys and girls separate. These particulars were absolutely essential in making up the various sets of books for the next year’s reading. ' The writer went on tc say that after 10 years’ close connection with the Wellington School Libraries, watching their development and great growth, he was more than ever convinced that this department was the most valuable portion of their library s activities. The principle underlying the movement being to inculcate a love of reading, and of good books, it naturally made the school the nursery for our future readeirs. In connection with what the children read from their school libraries, he might add that stories accounted for 91 912 issues, ahd all other classes of books for 63 548. Over 1200 new volumes had been added to their stock during the past year ‘ GOVERNMENT SUPPORT COMMENDED.

The following remit was moved by Miss Melville: “That in view of the good results that have been obtained by the introduction of the system of public libraries supplying books to the public schools in Wellington and Auckland, this conference recommends its wider adoption in cities and boroughs. The conference is also of the opinion that it would be of great advantage if in country districts, where local authorities are unable, on financial and administrative grounds, to inaugurate such a system of school libraries, the Lducation Department would imdertake this •work. It is, therefore, resolved that this suggestion, to commended to the sympathetic of the Hon. the Minister of Education.” Miss Melville said that the papers read had been most interesting. Auckland had been impressed with the extreme value ot the work done in the schools. Nearly every teacher transferred from the city to the country had urged that all schools should bo included in the scheme, and it was essential that the work should be extended to the rural localities. Yet it was obvious that the radius of operation beyond the city could not be extensive, d local authorities provided the libraries. Miss Melville said that parents had begun to take an interest in the scheme, this being evidenced by remarks on the books received by tie children, which proved that the idea was of great educational worth. Ihe suggested scheme should be on a provincial basis and if the grant to the various education boards ,vas made by the Cabinet, a national advancement would be made. -o The remit was supported hj Mr Bail lie, eoiH that it was not the work of a ° VhUlitT to provide books for country Srem 1 Mr Baillic said that'the charge to the library on the city rates was justi6Mr W. Hardio (Christchurch) suggested that a committee should P r ®P at i® a suitable hooks and circulate it through the schools. With that assistance the schools would probably, ho encouraged to form libraries on their own account. The woik of education was one of the greatest importance. and the Government should be asked to give it assistance. . The motion was carried unanimously. THE TURNBULL TREASURES.

K highly interesting paper on the treasures of the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, was read by Mr J. U Anderson, the librarian. Mr Andersen said that as the paper was about the treasures of the library it must bo taken for granted that the ordinary or better-known works of English and i acihc lieature were well represented. Ihe library contained over 60,000 volumes, and between 25 000 and 30,000 related to the Pacific; but it was not in numbers that the value of the library was estimated. All the wellknown English authors were represented by first editions, and it was these that were scattered about the library like greater pearls among the lesser. As he came m closer contact with the books collected he admired the taste and discrimination of the late Mr Turnbull. Many books were purely collectors’ books—variations of first or rare editions that differed only very slightly from one another, but the variation meant a difference in value of scores sometimes hundreds of pounds. Th c Milton collection, he believed, was the best outside the British M USGum - because not only was every work of the poet’s represented, but also ‘every edition of every one of his works, if that were possible, in addition to every variation of every edition. Of ‘ Paradise Lost” there were nine lots, a fresh lot being bound when one became exhausted, and a new title page was printed, while introductory matter was inserted in later lots. The variations cost from £IOO to £3OO each, while Milton received a wretched £5 or £lO for writing it. The library contained five variations, and also a copy of the first edition of “Comus.” for which the late Mr Turnbull paid £845, it now being worth £1650. A copy of an edition of poems, containing Milton’s Lycidas, published in 1658 lo commemorate the death of a young scholar king, was worth £2OOO, a thousand times its weigh tin gold. Mr Andersen dealt fully with all the other valuable hooks In the library, and explained the manuscripts and pictures which referred particularly to Now Zealand. Besides the Journal of the Endeavour on her first visit to New Zealand, which proved of interest to every visitor, the library contained Marsden’s complete journal of his second visit to the colony in 1819, and the journal of the Rev. Bain bridge, one of the earliest missionaries in the north. Both of these wore voluminous documents. In addition the library contained the Spanish m.s. relating to the discovery of the Solomon Islands and the Spanish m.s. of Antonelli (1608), which described the ports of what came to bo known as the Spanish Main. Reaantly

the library had acquired, by gift, an excellent whaler’s log of 1839-40, and copies oi letters (in default of the originals) of two men who occupied influential positions in Wellington from 1840 to 1847. The.library ■also hold the original sketches of Heaply, the New Zealand Company’s draughtsman, those, of Sir William Fox, of Judge Kettle, of W. Main Smith—who laid out Wellington —and scores of sketches of early New Zealand by artists of lesser note. In addition to many wator-nolourfi, which Mr Anderson enumerated, the library possessed 1000 etchings. Continuing, Mr Anderson said that visitors from mafty countries had inspected the library, but its real purpose was not to satisfy curiosity. He gave instances of the students who used it, and also of the visits paid by school children. Ho had also visited schools to explain various subjects to the children. He was sure that the children growing up would provide an even reading public than the present generation. Mr Anderson was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his paper. PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY. Referring to the Parliamentary Library, Mr Charles Wilson, the librarian, stated that two exceedingly misleading statements had been made in a paper read the previous day. Ho said that such statements had been made for years past, and he had done his utmost to erase the false impressions. The library did not issue novels. He declared that heavy annual charges would militate against the library being made national, as had been advocated, and the library could not undertake to send books in boxes to all the constituencies. That system was in vogue in New South Wales, where the staff numbered 35 as against eight in the Parliamentary Library. The system demanded a big staff. At present the recess list totalled over 800 names, and the sending of the books was a nuisance. During sessions of Parliament those entitled to receive books were members of the Legislecturo, the Vice-regal staff, and officers of the Royal Navy. Another suggestion had been made that the library should be converted into a reference book distributing library, books being despatched to all parts of the Dominion. The scheme, Mr Wilson hold, was unworkable, as heavy expense would be entailed. The Parliamentary Library was the only one of if® kind in the world that allowed the receiving of books during the recess of the House, there being over 700 such privilege-holders. The inference that the library was not being used to the fullest extent under the present circumstances was denied by Mr Wilson, yet he would admit that the library was yet far from perfect. Speaking of the suggestion that travelling libraries working from Wellington should bo initiated, Mr Wilson said that the expense would not be sanctioned. Ho claimed that wonderful steps had been made in the progress of the library since he had taken control. In 1902 the library contained 37,800 volumes, yet, on a grant that had been the same for 40 years, ho had trebled the number of volumes in 25 years. Mr Barr contended that he had made no misstatements, and that the library should be of a national nature. GENERAL. A paper by Miss J. Baillie (librarian at the Wellington Public Library) on “School Libraries in the United States,” was read by Mr Herbert Baillie, On the motion of Mr H. Baillie (Wellington) it was agreed to congratulate the American Library Association on completing its fiftieth year. Mr Baillie added that the American Library Association had been very good to the New Zealand Association in its first year, and they had had some splendid papers from its members. It was decided to hold next year’s conference at Wanganui in February.