PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1926, Page 10

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

THEIR WORTH IN A COMMUNITY. FOSTERING CHILDREN’S READING. Public libraries and the value to all sections of the community, formed the subject of an address to the New Plymouth Rotary Club yesterday by Mr. E. B. Ellerm, librarian at the Carnegie Institute. Mr. Ellerm laid particular stress on the importance of children’s libraries, pointing out that 140 children were now subscribing members in New Plymouth, and an average of 600 books were 'being issued to them every month. In outlining the growth of the movement towards providing better reading facilities for children, M. Ellerm stated: “In America, which country is quoted on account of having attained such wonderful results in their children’s libraries, the work is carried right into the classes, specially trained library assistants being in attendance at the schools with supplies of books from the library. These assistants help the children to select books, encourage reading in spare moments, lead children into informal talks about the books they have read, and thereby ,gain an idea of their tastes in literature. Finally, they talk over each child’ft need with his regular teacher. Thus each individual child is reached and the outside reading is influenced in a thorough and direct way. In this way children are encouraged to make every possible use of the public library, either as a means of recreation or as a means of assisting them in their studies in whatever walk of life they may ultimately follow. “Coming to New Zealand, it is only in the last few years that much attention has been paid to developing children’s libraries, principally, I think, on account of lack of funds. Without doubt, with the exception of the larger centres, it has been difficult enough to find sufficient funds to carry on the adult libraries without attempting to develop any other branch of the work. “In our own town, where our interest primarily lies, lack of funds have prevented giving this branch the attention required of it, but during the last year reorganisation of the institute has enabled a section to be devoted entirely to children. A number of books have been added and the subscription reduced to 2s fid per annum. Since the change the number of children subscribing has risen from 18 to 140 in just over 12 months, with an average of 600 books per month issued. Whilst our progress

will necessarily be slow, mainly through lack of funds, by steadily building up this section each year it will ultimately occupy the Important position It should in the welfare of the children’s community, At the same time, children are developing a taste for literature, and will ultimately be able to pass on to the adult section, whore a much wider field of literature awaits them. Fortunately the schools in this district have realised the importance of cultivating the child’s literary taste, and have in many cases provided excellent though small class libraries. But the fact still remains, our public library has still a large field to cover, “It is impossible to guage adequately the influence of the public library on the life of the community,” said Mr, Ellerm, in speaking of the value of libraries generally, “A little consideration must convince anyone that the issue of large numbers of books to largo numbers of people is bound to have some very lasting benefits to a great majority of them. Public libraries are not the luxuries of the privileged classes, but the necessary supplement to our national education system, supplying the best reading to the greatest number at the least cost. In fact they are public necessities. Tlfe need for books was never greater than at the present time, and people are finding in them, more than ever, the material they need lor their education, information and recreation. “As an indication of what is being done locally let me quote a few figures. For 1925-26, 75,000 books were issued; for eight months of 1926-27, 62,000 were issued; indicating that the value of the library to the community is being appreciated. Of the total issued, about 20 per cent, are now fiction, showing thjt the educational side of the library is taken advantage of. But the library should reach every part of the community, and it is to that end we are striving.” At tho conclusion of the address a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speaker on the motion of Rotarian H. Ashton.