BOOK RESERVES

Southland Times, Issue 25312, 15 June 1935, Page 8

BOOK RESERVES

PUBLIC LIBRARY ABOLITION OF SYSTEM DEPRECATED SUBSCRIBER’S VIEWS The action of the City Council in discontinuing the reservation system at the Public Library is being both praised and blamed by the man in the street. Yesterday the fancy took a Times reporter that he would go to the library and obtain the views of the first person he met in the lending department Having mounted the stairs and opened the door the reporter nearly collided with a burly man emerging with several books under his arm. Apologies having been uttered, he explained his mission, and learnt that the subject of his interrogation was Mr J. Clarkson, Arthur Street, Wellesley. “You can’t expect me to stand in the doorway and discuss the matter,” said Mr Clarkson. “Come and talk over a cup of tea.” “As my guest,” said the reporter, with visions of his office paying for the feast.

“Well, I don’t mind giving you my views,” said\Mr Clarkson, “for I feel so strongly on the subject that when I read of the. City Council’s decision in your paper I had serious doubts whether the library would be of sufficient use to me to continue my subscription. As a matter of fact you have by choice questioned one who makes great use of the privilege of reserving. Naturally I am definitely in favour of the practice being continued.” “Well, what are your reasons?” asked the reporter. “In the first place I submit that the system of reservation places everyone on the same footing,” said Mr Clarkson. “Some of the councillors, I recollect, argued in an opposite strain, but I can’t agree with them. There is a list of titles placed on a board in the doorway to draw attention to the new books. These, as well as any other book in the library, may be reserved by any subscriber. Surely those who can pay the membership fee can pay the threepence reservation fee. I am aware of no favouritism, and there are ample safeguards to prevent abuse of the privilege. “There are about 2000 books reserved annually, many of these being the latest additions to the shelves. Approximately 600 new books are annually set aside on arrival, which means that each book is on an average reserved three and a-third times. If everyone of these 600 books actually were reserved (though this is not the case) then the average length of time the books would not be available for borrowing without a reservation fee would be at a maximum three and a-third weeks out of the 52. In the case of popular authors there are two or more copies purchased, only one being set aside for reservation purposes. It is well-known to subscribers that the free copies may often be secured earlier than by reserving. “If we turn to revenue, we have to realize that the discontinuance of reservations means not only the loss of £25 a year from reservation fees, but the sum represented by the extra books taken out because the reservation system exists.

“At a conservative estimate the library will have to secure 60 new subscribers to offset the fall in revenue due to the council’s decision. I think the best way to popularize the library would be to reduce the subscription—though I do not begrudge the present subscription. “I agree with the chairman of the Library Committee that the abolition of reservations will mean the reintroduction of syndicates or cliques by which a particular book will be circulated among the members of such syndicate until all have read it. This is the logical reply to the council’s move, and it can be done without the connivance of the library staff who are powerless to prevent it. “Finally, there is the assurance through reservations of securing . a reasonably clean book. Without being over-fastidious many subscribers dislike the grubby books so often found on the shelves. Why should these people not be allowed to have clean books if they are prepared to pay for them?”