LIBRARY SYSTEM

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 75, Issue 6444, 10 November 1947, Page 3

LIBRARY SYSTEM

POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND VIEWS OF LONDON LIBRARIAN Although Mr L. R. McColvin, city librarian of Westminster and honorary secretary of the Library Association, London, found shortcomings in New Zealand libraries on his visit to the Dominion this year, he praises them in a paper, “Libraries Round the World,” which he published on his return.

“It was altogether a very heartening experience to study the New Zealand library scene, as so much has been accomplished, mostly during the last few: wears, and so much more is certain to be achieved before long, 0 he says. “This progress I attribute to various factors—the stimulus of a report made in 1934 by Mr Munn, of Pittsburgh, and Mr John Barr, librarian of Auckland; the fact that some of the older men were trained in British libraries and some of the younger leaders were enabled to study librarianship in Great Britain and America; the activities of a very live professional association; the genuine interest and support of a progressive Government; and the outstanding work of Mr G. T. Alley, director of the National Library Service.”

Many libraries,- although, provided and largely financed by local authorities, lent books to subscribers, only. In certain cases these were surprisingly good; but they were not giving their full potential service to the community. Dunedin was the only city with a genuine public library, Mr McColvin says.