LIBRARY CONTROL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27078, 12 May 1949, Page 10

LIBRARY CONTROL

GOVERNMENT HELP OPINIONS AT CONFERENCE Whether local authorities should seek financial assistance from the Government was a question debated keenly by the Local Authorities Section of the New Zealand Library Association, whose conference opened in Dunedin yesterday. Fears were expressed that any surrender of local autonomy might jeopardise the future role of local authorities in library control. A motion was carried for consideration by a special committee:—“ That in the opinion of this meeting, the retention of the fullest measure of local control is vital and that the sub-com-mittee be requested to examine means of obtaining further Government assistance where justified without in any way weakening such local control.” “The time has come when local bodies cannot stand on their own feet to maintain and extend their libraries,” said Mr H. W. B. Bacon, of Petone. ‘‘Ratepayers would have just cause for complaint if further assistance was sought from them. Many who do not pay rates benefit from the library services. I do not think for one moment that the National Library Service would take away our local authority if the Government increased its assistance.” Mr S. P. Ardern, Onehunga, pointed out that local bodies were already receiving assistance. Some of the local bodies were not levying the full rate. Mr G. C. Peterson, Palmerston North, said that in his opinion, an application to the Government for further help would be wrong as the Government had its hands full at (he present time. “We should stand on our feet and consider our own methods of advancement,” Mr Peterson declared. “It is entirely fallacious to suggest that libraries are supported by the ratepayer, or landowner, alone—the rentpayer is making his contribution. The honorary secretary of the association, Mr G. T. Alley, said that most of the libraries, if not all, had received money grants from the State, and it did not appear to have done them any harm. Mr Alley suggested that not enough emphasis had been placed on the educational force of the public library in the community. He mentioned the Government grants made to radio, adult education and education generally* It was mentioned by Mr J. W. Kealy, Auckland, that the people in control of the National Library Service were giving an admirable service. “They are as keen as we are to administer the service impartially,” he said. Status of Librarians “ in order to secure the employment of trained librarians within the public library service and to bring public library salaries more nearly into conformity with the recommendations of the Library Association’s Salaries Committee, it might be considered reasonable for the Government to offer a subsidy amounting to half the salary of all persons employed in public libraries whose qualifications are deemed adequate, and wherever the local authority makes payment at the rate recommended by the New Zealand Library Association,” was a topic proposed for discussion. —IV was referred to a sub-committee. On the motion of Mr G. H. Roach (Hastings) it was decided to suggest to the Libraries’ Council that an approach be made to the Gqvernment for recognition of the necessity for increasing the status of librarianship. Other -Library Work Various sections of the conference held meetings yesterday. In the evening a talk on audio-visual developments in libraries abroad was given by Miss N. Bateson, director of the Library School in Wellington. A demonstration of audio-visual equipment and a talk on the scope of the National Film Library were given by Mr G Anderson, supervisor of the National Film Library. The conference will finish to-mor-row