PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 38

PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

CONFERENCE OF REPRESENTATIVES The first conference of representativea from public libraries in New Zealand, convened by the Dunedin City' Council, was opened in the City Council Chambers, Town- Hall, on Saturday morning. The following- delegates were present: —Dunedin City Council: Cr Robert Gilkison (chairman of the Library Committee), Mr W. J. Morrell, M.A., Mr Mark Cohen, Mr Wm. B. M'Ewan (librarian). "Welling-, ton City Council: Cr D. M'Laren, M.Jf. (chairman of Libraries Committee), Cr A. R. Atkinson, .Mr - Herbert Baiilie (chief librarian). Auckland City Council: Cr C. J. Parr (chairman' - Education Board), Mr H. Shaw" (meirfber Library and Ley.* - Institute Committees); Mr E. Shillington (chief" librarian). Miss Williams (librarian. Leys Institute). Leys Institute (Auckland): Mr T. W. Leys. Turanganui Public Library: Miss Beere (librarian). Parliamentary Library-: Mr Chas. Wilson (chief librarian). There were also wesent:— Hon. J. T< Paul, M.L.C., Messrs J. F. Arnold, M.P., T. K. Sidey, M.P., Crs Burnett, Barr, Tapley. Stewart, Sullivan, M'Pherson, and Douglas, Messrs A. R. 'Barclay, J. Hutchison, and F. Bastings (Dunedin Athenseum). Apologies for non-attendance were received from Hon. J. B. Callan, M.L.C., Hon. J. A,. Millar (Minister of Railways), Messrs J. Allen, M.P., J. Craigie, M.P. , (Timaru), A. James, and T. £. Barrett (Onehunga). THE MAYOR'S WELCOME. The Mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. H. "Walker) welcomed the delegates to the city. The conference, he said, was of direct importance jo all concerned in the cultivation and extension of the best literature. The necessity of interchanging views out the best methods to employ and the various matters so necessary to success were of vital importance to all. / Mr Leys (Auckland), on behalf of the visitors, thanked" the Mayor for their kindly reception in Dunedin. The tribulations experienced in journeying from Auckland had been well repaid by the kindly welcome his Worship had given them. It was an honour to attend the first conference of public libraries' representatives in New Zeakuid. And, moreover, Dunedin --citizens should regard it as an honour re have the first conference held in their city. The holding of the conference showed much of that Scotch energy about which so much was .-heard, although there was not so. much energy in evidence in starting a free publio library. They were a' long way behind Auckland_in that respect, for it was 30 years since one was opened there. Euthu-.sia-s-m had been shewn iir Dunedin, however, after they had got going. ' He referred to the restless energy of his. friend, Mr Cohen, which was reflected in Mr Gilkison, the chairman of the Dunedin Public Library Committee. Their ' energetic enthusiasm augured well for the future of the Dunedin Carnegie Library, and also augured well for the future of public libraries in New Zealand. Public libraries were not on the footing they should be, considering they: importance as educators, to the masses of the- people. He did not think their importance was appreciated bp> these in authority. CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARY. On the motion of Mr Parr, seconded by Mr Shaw, Mr R. Gilkison, of Dunedin, was appointed chairman.' Mr R. W. Richards (town clerk, Dunedin), was appointed hon. secretary. The Chairman then delivered a thoughtful address. Referring to the value of public libraries he said:— Woodrow Wilson lays it down that popular education! is necessary for the preservation of those conditions of. freedom, political and. social, which arj indispensable to free individual development; and, further, that popular educatio>7 is indispensable to that equalisation of the conditions of personal develop-, menfr which he defines as- the. proper object of society. And what other means of ; popular education- N can be compared to m{ public library? The democracy must be ant. educated one if we are to advance, or evert; hold our own. And here I should pay 'attribute to Mr Andrew Carnegie, who hasdone more for the public library movement of to-day than any other living naan r and. bv whose generous assistance the Dunedin library was first commenced. He has never forgotten that he had to fight bis way up through a youth of hardship and poverty,, and owed to a well-appointed library to which he was admitted the training and education which fitted him for success. His' handsome donation of £IO,OOO led to the Dunedin Library being- built, and the duty and privilege of furnishing and fitting it and afterwards carrying it on has since devolved on the Dunedin Council. AN ASSOCIATION FORMED. The Chairman moved—" That an association be formed, t.o be willed ' The New Zealand Public Libraries' Association.'" Mr Baiilie second the motion, but suggested the deletion of thevword " public." A discussion followed, after which the motion was carried in this form: —" That an association be formed, to be called 'The Libraries' Association of New Zealand.' " The Hon. Secretary read a draft of the* proposed constitution of the association. It was resolved, after a brief discussion, to refer the' proposed constitution to a. committee consisting of Messrs Gilkison, Baiilie. ■ Leys, M'Ewan, Atkinson, Morrell, and Parr. MR WILSON'S PAPER. . • < Mr Charles Wilson (Chief Parliamentary Librarian) read a lengthy paper on " The Selection and Purchase of Books for Public Libraries." The Parliamentary Library possessed 75.000 bound publications, and .tbe> yearly increase varied from 2800 to 360 C. volumes.

The paper was. discussed'by Messrs Shaw, I>eys, Cohen. Morrell, Parr, Barclay, M'Laren, M'Ewan, Atkinson, and Shillington, all made reference to the valuable. nature of the contents of Mr Wilson's paper. On the motion of the Chairman a vote of thanks was accorded Mr Wilson. LIBBAP.V HYGIENE. A paper by Dr Frengley (District Health Office, Wellington) was read by the Secretary (Mr Richards). Dr Frengley detailed a number of precautionary steps to be taken to prevent the spread of disease by means of books and other literature. Discussion on the papei was postponed. Second Day.—Monday. The first conference of representatives from public libraries in New Zealand was resumed at the Town Hall buildings or. Monday morning at half-past 9. Mr . R Gilkison was in the chair. - In addition to those present at Saturday's meeting, Mr James Craigie, M.P. (Tma.ru), attended. A number of visitors were also present by invitation. LIBRARY HYGIENE. The Chairman said the first business was the discussion on the paper on " Library Hygiene," by Br Erengley, Public Health Officer at Wellington. -Mr M'Laren (Wellington) presented a paper by Mr H. Baillie (Wellington) on the same subject. This paper, which was read by the hon. secretary (Mr Richards.), dealt in a very instructive manner witn the subject of book-disinfection, the writer's conclusions being found on inquiries made by him during a visit to the United States. It was resolved to thank Dr Erengley and Mr Baillie for their papers.

Mr M'Laren moved—" That this conference recommends for consideration to the authorities in charge of all public libraries throughout the Dominion the plans submitted by Br Frengley (Health Officer, ■Wellington) and Mr Baillic for the disinfecting of books distributed from such libraries, and the prevention of the spreading of disease by the general use of bcoks which may have been in'' the hands of persons suffering from an infectious disease."

Mr Baillie seconded the motion. in the discussion that followed there was a difference of opinion as to the necessity

•of precautionary steps of any drastic nature. One gentlcnan remarked that emphasis of the somewhat shadowy possibility of infection from the handling of library books Might rais-! a scare that would depreciate, and to some extent defeat, the purposes of lending libraries. Another speaker was of • the opinion that some persons had germs on the brain. . The motion was negativedxan the voices. TRAVELLING LIBRARIES. Mr Cohen read a paper on £" Travelling . Libraries an¥3 Their Management," and concluded by moving:—"That it is desirable to inaugurate a system of travelling libraries in this Dominion, and that the executive of the Libraries Association be empowered •• to bring the question under the notice of the Government, and to request that practical effect be given, to this resolution as early as practicable; and that this conference desires respectfully to direct the attention of the Government to the system pre--1 ■vailing m South Australia, Victoria, and other countries, whereby collections of books ,; are sent,from the capital city for circulation in rural districts; also to the low rates I charged on the railways in New South "Wales and elsewhere for carriage of parcels of books from circulating libraries. The conference urged the concession to libraries controlled by local governing bodies, of the right to forward parcels of books to and ' within countries at the New South Wales or similar rates." Mr Leys (Auckland) seconded the motion. The motion was carried unanimously. JUVENILE LIBRARIES. Mr Leys moved—" That in ail municipal libraries special provision should be made for juvenile : libraries and reading rooms." Mr Cohen seconded the motion, which -was supported by Messrs Baillie, M'Ewan, and'M'Lar.jn, after which the motion was -carried unanimously. "LITERARY SOCIETIES. Mr Parr (Auckland) moved —" That it is desirable for th 4 management of each public library to make some /provision for ■ the establishment of lectures and literary societies and cognate institutions in connection with the library." The Leys Institute in Auckland had in connection with it a large hall in which lectures were held during the winter time. University pro- ' feasors delivered lectures on interesting and '. **pula.r subjects, and. gentlemen of culture '. in other directions were only too willing . to oblige. ■<• A . debating ■ club, a literary . dub; a gymnasium, a chess -club; a football club, and a tennis club were also attached T " to "the "institute', thus focussing into the > institution the social and mental form of . the district " Mr Cohen seconded the motion. Messrs Shaw, M'Laren, Leys, Baillie, and Morrell also spoke, after which the motion was carried -unanimously. BRANCH LIBRARIES. Mr Leys moved—" That the importance of establishing well-equipped branch libraries and reading rooms in suitable positions be pressed upon the notice of municipal Councils, and that these libraries should "be worked in conjunction with the central library and under a common system of management, but with the aid of a local committee." Mr Leys replied, and the motion was put and carried. LTBBAKT RATES. Mr Shaw moved —" That, having regard to the increasing demand made upon the resources of public libraries' authorities in connection with the educational work oS the Dominion, it is of the greatest importance that the Public Libraries Act should be amended so as to remove the present, limitation of the library rate." The mot'on was carried, with the concluding words in this amended form —"It is of the greatest importance * that 'The Municipal Corporations Act, IBoß,' be amended so as to alter the limitation of the library rate from Id to 3d" ■"?•.", V OTHER MOTIONS. Mr M'Laren moved—" That where such Institutions' as museums, lecture halls, or ' art galleries are under the control cf the • authority in charge of a, public library, •and are worked in conjunction with the library and. housed in the same building, the charges for the upkeep of such institutions ' may be met out of any increased library rate imposed for the library educational work." —The motion was carried without discussion. Mr M'Laren moved—" That this conference make representations to the Minister

' for Education and the Parliamentary Committee in charge of the General Assembly Library, urging that such library shall' be treated as a Dominion" Library, and thrown open as fully as is practicable to the general use of • the public."—Mr Cohen seconded the motion, which was discussed pro and con, and, on being put to the I meeting, was last by 7 votes to 4. 1 Mr Parr moved— "That in the opinion of this conference some provision should be made by library authorities to enable the free issue of books other than books of modern fiction from the lending depart- ■ ment,"—The mover explained that no i wanted to see a better class of literature I going into the hands of the public geneI rally. The motion had for its object the affirming-of some course of action which would enable that to be done.—Mr Baillie seconded the motion, which was carried. i ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION. At the evening sitting, the delegates disI cussed the constitution, consisting of about a dozen clauses. Considerable, discussion- took place on the definition of "public library." Ultimately, it was agreed, by 7 votes, to 5, to adopt the following:-" A public library is any library not conducted for private j profit, which is serving a, public purpose in the sense that it is used by the public , or a. section of the-public with or without charge." NEXT CONFERENCE. It was resolved. that the next meeting of delegates be held at Auckland at Easteri time. 1911, and thereafter biennially. j ELECTION OF OFFICERS. I On the motion, of Mr Gilkison, seconded j bv Mr M'Larcn, it was unanimously j-e- ---| solved to appoint Mr T. W. Lays., of Auck- ! land, as the first president of the assoeia- : fcion. The decision was received with applause, and Mr Leys expressed the honour, ! he felt at being elected to the office. i Other office-bearers were elected as foli lows: Vice-presidents, Messrs. R. Gilki--1 son (Dunsdin), J. Craigie, M.P. (Timaru), • D. M'Laren, M.P. (Wellington); hon.. sec- : rotary and treasurer, Mr R. W. Richards; ; Executive Committee Messrs Baillie, j Cohen, M'Ewan, Morrell, Parr, Shaw, andAtkinson. . ; , •'■ I It was resolved that fflur vice-presioents I be appointed, the executive being author- ! ised to rill the vacancy. j COMPLIMENTARY. Votes of thanks were accorded to the ! Mayor of Dunedin and the Corporation for the use of the Council Chamber, to Mr Richards and Mr Jacobs for their services as hon. secretary and assistant seoretarv, and to Mr Low, caretaker of the Town Hall. Mr Parr moved a vote of thanks to Mr Gilkison for his services as chairman. The chair could not have been in worthier hands than in those of Mr Gilkison. The delegates were also indebted to Mr and Mrs Gilkison for their hospitality. The vote of thanks was carried with acclamation. ■ • VISIT TO HOCKEN LIBRARY AND WAITATI. After lunch the visitors, accompanied by city councillors,- were driven -to the Hocken wing of the Museum, where the large and most interesting collection of manuscripts and other, documents pertaining to early colonial'history, acquired by Dr Hocken during many years, were viewed with the keenest delight. The party then drove to Waitati by way of "Leith Valley, where Cr Sullivan (chairman of the Water Committee) pointed out the City Council's works and plans • in the matter of water 1 conservation in ihafc locality. The plantations were also inspected. At Waitati the party had tea, and town was reached at half-past 8, after a most enjoyable outing. Yesterday the visitor6_Wjere~ taken in special cars to the suburbs, and were entertained' at tea at Mr Gilkison's residence at North-East-Valley.