DEARER BOOKS A PROBLEM

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1931, Page 7

DEARER BOOKS A PROBLEM

POSITION OF LIBRARIES. Librdrans from the chief municipal piibiic libraries conferred in Wellington last week on matters conecrilitig the increased prices charged for books, chiefly owing to the adverse rate of exchange. While the librarians were iti the city a conference was held with.representatives of the Booksellers’ Association, and a free and amicable discussion took plitce with satisfactory results all round. Certain readjustments were agreed upon as only fair and reasonable. Those Within the Libraries’ Assoqiatimi of New Zealand are to continue to receive 12J per cent, discount, while outside libraries will receive 7£ per cent, discount. In referring to the matter; Mr. J. Norrie, chief librarian at Wellington, stated that the library fees to the public would not be affected in Wellington, nor, he thought, elsewhere. While there was a possibility of the curtailment of library grants by municipalities, 1m was hot dispewed to think that libraries Wotild buffer by reason of a.falling off in (subscribers; At times like the present, people were more apt to curtail othbr recreations and thru to the libraries as the cheapest and beet means of mehtiil refreshment. That .was borne out bv tlio figures for the year ended March 31 last. During that year 627,128 books were issued from the municipal libraries of Wellington—a new recoid, 113,196 in excess of those issued during the preceding year.