THE LIBRARIES IN DUNEDIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26114, 29 March 1946, Page 9

THE LIBRARIES IN DUNEDIN

Sir,—Let me join Mr W. A. Taylor and Mr Alfred Eccles in presenting my bouquets to the librarians of your city. Courtesy and guidance have always added pleasure to my quests at your Public Library and the Early Settlers’ Library Now let me hurl my brick at the University for bolting and barring the door to that wonderful storehouse of colonial history—the Hocken Library, I ask what could be of less use than a locked library? In my search for information regarding Auckland’s Cargill, Sir John Logan Campbell, I have visited every public library in New Zealand. In all except the Hocken I have been free to browse to my heart’s content. True, if I nominate* a book, I can read it, if and when it arrives at the University. Often as not, the required reference takes less time than the journey and if I strike a blind trail there is no other to follow with the guidance of the staff, as, say, in the McNab collection. My leisure is restricted because I travel to earn my living. The facilities at the Christchurch library administered by the Canterbury College, contrast strikingly with those offered at the Hocken Library. Perhaps the University prefers to offer its “ gownsmen ” advantages over its “ townmen” and is content to let visitors pan more gold in fields less rich. I recommend Mr Eccles’s sensible suggestions and congratulate him upon drawing attention to the University’s betrayal of the trust which Dr Hocken placed at their disposal. If there js to be a ceremonial unlocking of this national shrine I will willingly provide the chancellor with a brass key. —I am etc Akarana.