READING MATTER FOR CHILDREN

Southland Times, Issue 25795, 5 October 1945, Page 8

READING MATTER FOR CHILDREN

MOVE FOR MORE AND BETTER BOOKS

Children’s Book Week is to be held in Invercargill in November, This was decided at a meeting of school teachers and others, interested in the subject of books for children, held in the City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. Arrangements were made for talks in connection with the week over the radio, to school children and to members of such organizations as the Rotary Club, the Travel Club and Parents’ Associations.

Mr W. Bell, chairman of the Library Committee of the City Council, who presided, said that the purpose of children’s book week was not to advertise the juvenile library, but to interest children in books, and to encourage the reading of better books by children, for there was no doubt' that many of the books, which went under the name of literature, were unadulterated trash. One of the good things that had come out of the promotion of Children’s Book Week last year was the opening of a better juvenile library in Tay street. Mr H. B. Farnall, the city librarian, said that the slogan for Children’s Book Week this year was “More and Better Books for Children.” Mr Farnall read the following letter received by the New Zealand Library Association from the organizers of Children’s Book Week in America. “Programmes, which are building up towards Book Week 1945, are already in progress in England, Australia, New Zealand and Russia. Many other countries are writing for information from us, and definitely plan to join with us in celebrating Book Week. Designed to serve parents, teachers, librarians, community groups and all others interested in the welfare of children and young people, the Children’s Book Council invites your co-operation in this effort to bring more books to more children.” Mr Farnall also read the following extract from an article on Children’s Book Week, which appeared in the New Zealand Libraries Bulletin:— “Librarians and others, who are familiar with the type of literature now being produced for children, realize the importance of promoting among parents, school teachers, members of local bodies and all others closely associated with young people, an active interest in, and thorough knowledge of, the .best in children’s literature. With the development of this interest and knowledge, the way will be paved, when conditions permit, for satisfying, to the best possible advantage, our children’s literary needs.” NEED FOR BETTER BOOKS Mr L. J. Broomfield said that there should be a definite objective in connection with Children’s Book Week. It was not sufficient merely to talk about more and better books for children. Some definite objective should be aimed at, such as was the case last year, when a better juvenile library was obtained in Invercargill. Further improvements were wanted. That would cost money, but it would be money well spent. A better juvenile library would give Invercargill a more intelligent population in the years to come. There was no doubt a need for bettei - books in the juvenile library. It was a disgrace to put some of the books at present on the shelves of the library into the hands of any child. The City Council had done a good job in establishing the new juvenile library. That was a very hopeful sign, and fie hoped that the day was not far distant when Invercargill, would have a juvenile library worthy of the town, and similar to the juvenile libraries in Timaru and Dunedin.

Referring to the difficulty of getting books for the juvenile library at the present time, Mr D. A. McDonald suggested that an appeal to the public for children’s books might produce results. Miss M. W. May: You would get copies of Chums about 100 years old and other junk that was only fit for a bonfire.

Miss May added that she thought the difficulty of getting children’s books had been somewhat exaggerated. She had been able to purchase books for the library of the Girls’ High School. Mr G. F. Griffiths said he believed an appeal to the public for children’s books would be a fiasco. He had had experience of such an appeal, and it had resulted in a lot of unsuitable books being sent in. Mr H. W. Slater said he agreed with Mr Griffiths. Books for children had to be selected. They should not depend on the public sending them in haphazardly. He had found considerable difficulty in getting suitable fiction for boys, though books of populai' science seemed to be more readily available. Books for the juvenile library should be bought by a committee possessing the necessary knowledge. SUGGESTION TO COUNCIL Mr A. W. Jones said that the City Council had a reserve fund for the purchase of books for the juvenile library. This fund was built up at a time when it was not possible to buy children’s books. He moved that it be a recommendation to the City Council to spend up to £lOO from this fund on the purchase of children’s books. The motion was carried and Mrs H. C. Mathews, Misses M. W. May and M. M. Robinson and Messrs L. J. Broomfield and H. W. Slater were appointed a sub-committee to prepare a list of suitable books for children.

A motion was passed congratulating the City Council on haying established the new juvenile library in Tay street.