PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Southland Times, Issue 20792, 5 June 1929, Page 6

PUBLIC LIBRARY.

MAKING IT POPULAR RESERVATION OF BOOKS PERMITTED SUBSCRIPTIONS REDUCED “This is in pursuance of an effort to popularize the public library.” said Councillor Ford in moving the report of the library committee last evening. He referred particularly to the three following clauses:— (1) Recommend that all library subscriptions renewed after June 5 and all new subscriptions be 12/6 for the first book and 10/- for each succeeding book with suitable adjustments for the half-yearly and quarterly subscriptions. (2) Recommend that a sub-committee consisting of his Worship the Mayor, the chairman, Mr J. J. W. Pollard, and the librarian be set up to prepare a folder advertising the library and to arrange for it to be distributed to householders by the electricity and gas meter readers, that the subcommittee be empowered to spend up to £3O. (3) Recommend that the system entitling subscribers to reserve books at the library on payment of a fee of threepence for each book be restored. Councillor Reed moved as an amendment that clause 3 be referred back to the librarycommittee. This was seconded by Councillor Robertson. Councillors Gilkison, Brodrick and HallJones spoke strongly opposing the amendment, mentioning that under the non-re-servation system books eagerly sought never appeared on the shelves, but were passed round among coteries of friends. The amendment was lost and the report adopted. Librarian’s Report. In the reports of officers the librarian (Mr H. B. Farnall) submitted the following statement on the reserving of books: —• The withdrawal of the privilege of reserving books in the lending department has caused a great deal of dissatisfaction among quite a number of the subscribers, and I am frequently interviewed to know if there is any chance of the system being reinstated. I would like to suggest that a scheme, as outlined by Councillor Reed when the matter was under discussion a year ago, be introduced, i.e. that so many copies of a new'book be for reserve, the rest to be placed on the shelves free. This can be easily done by introducing a special coloured label on the reserve books. By introducing this system the advantages would be as follows: — (1) Subscribers would not loan one another books before returning to the library. (2) Subscribers would not come in together to exchange their new books between themselves. (3) The staff and myself would not constantly be listening to complaints and abuse as at present. (4) The aspersion of favouritism by the staff would be removed. (5) Subscribers would riot leave the library’ because they cannot get the new and popular books. (6) We could tell better which are the most popular books and add extra copies to meet the demand, the cost of these would be met by the extra reserve fees.