FREE LIBRARY SERVICE
GREAT ADVANCES MADE CONFERENCE OF ASSOCIATION A feature of the annual conference of the New Zealand Library Association which was held recently at Christchurch was strong support for the free library movement, said the retiring president, Mr John Harris (Otago University Librarian), in an interview with the Daily Times yesterday. There was a record attendance, the 140 members and delegates present including many representatives of local bodies. It was pointed out that two-thirds of all the public libraries in New Zealand were now free, and that with such great advances as had been made in the past, it would be a pity not to complete the effort by bringing in the others. >
Mr John Barr, chief librarian of the Auckland public libraries, which. became free a little more than 12 months ago, was one of the strongest advocates for the scheme and was supported by other Auckland representatives, including Cr T. W. Kealy and Mr W. H. Fortune, M.P. Support for the free library movement was also forthcoming from Hutt city, whose library service became free last year. Mention was made of the fact that Dunedin and Timaru were the pioneers of the free library movement in New Zealand. Interesting points from the annual report of the Library Association are that the membership has risen from 502 to 525 and that it has issued two major publications—“ About Books for Children,” by Dorothy White, of Dunedin, and “ Guide t 9 New-. Zealand Reference Material,” by John Harris. Another feature is that Miss E. J. Carnell, an English librarian, who was in New Zealand for some years as liaison officer with the Library Association, has just written a book on “ Library Administration,” which is dedicated to the Otago Branch of the New Zealand Library Association, and draws its illustrations largely from New Zealand library practice. Miss Carnell was stationed in Wellington pnd 1 paid several visits to Dunedin where she was always welcomed by members of the Otago branch.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 26474, 30 May 1947, Page 8
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331FREE LIBRARY SERVICE Otago Daily Times, Issue 26474, 30 May 1947, Page 8
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