THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27083, 18 May 1949, Page 6

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Sir,—Having been away from Dunedin for the past six months I was amazed on entering the Public Library to see the alterations that have been made. How the chairman of the Library Committee of the council consented to the present set-up of the reading room is a puzzle. It seems to me that the ratepayers’ money has been spent largely on unnecessary alterations, which are not meeting the needs of the general public. 1 have spoken to many of Dunedin’s citizens and have not found one in favour of what has been done. A big percentage of the people who visit a public library do so in order to see the different newspapers which are usually displayed openly as was formerly the case at Dunedin. Now these people are not catered for at all- The files of the various newspapers are contained in a cabinet on which is a stand where there is room for not more than two or three people. Whoever is reading the papers on the stand have to stand aside continually in order to allow others to get the files they want out of the cabinet. To me it seems a ridiculous state of affairs. I have just been visiting the towns, of Gore and Invercargill, where things are quite different. Even in Gore there is a room set apart for readers of newspapers and magazines and at least 10 papers from other centres are displayed on stands where readers can peruse them in comfort. The present condition of affairs at the Dunedin Public Library should result in a largely increased membership of the Athenaeum —I am, etc.. Ratepayer. May 16. [When this letter was referred to Mr A. G. W. Dunningham, librarian of the Dunedin Public Library, he pointed out that any reader who finds tlie reading space congested is recommended by the library staff to take the paper into the adjacent reading room where it may be read at a table. Adequate table space is always available. Mr Dunninghm said he would willingly discuss the matter with “Ratepayer” if he cared to make himself known. —Ed. ODT.]