AUCKLAND LIBRARY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1043, 6 August 1930, Page 10

AUCKLAND LIBRARY

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS GROWTH FROM EARLY DAYS The Auckland Public Library will celebrate its jubilee on September 7. In 1880, the Auckland City Council acquired the Mechanics’ Institute, which until then uacl been the meeting ground of.many city associations, ■and on September 7 of that year the Auckland Free Library was officially opened. The Library Committee of the City Council is organising a function to celebrate the jubilee. This will be held on September 8, and the occasion will be marked by the issue of a library bulletin. Mr. John Barr, librarian, has compiled a history of the institution. It is also proposed to make some recognition of the valuable work of Mr. Barr and his staff, and several people, including Sir George Fowlds, the Rev. E. Lawson Marsh and Mr. J. W. Shaw, lecturer in English at the Auckland Training College, are working to this end. A fund is’ to be opened and a minimum subscription of one shilling has been suggested. Donations should be sent to Mr. R. O'Shea. Registrar of the University. The Mechanics’ Institute, from which the present public library grew, stood in Chancery Street and was opened or, September 30, 1842. In 1882, after tli© library had been inaugurated. Sir George Grey offered his collection of books, curios and pictures to the city and this decided the council to erect the present combined library and art gallery, Avhioh was opened in 1887. Later additions included the J. T. Mackelvie, the McKechnie and the * red and Henry Shaw collections. A movement is on foot at present to erect a new art gallery and alloAv ~ he , J 'y“ ole of the present combined building to be used as a library.