INGLEWOOD LIBRARY

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1935, Page 15

INGLEWOOD LIBRARY

SUBSCRIBERS’ ANNUAL MEETING. QUALITY OF BOOKS IN QUESTION. A meeting of subscribers of the Inglewood public library was held in the borough council chambers on Friday night to elect two representatives on the library committee for a period of three years. Mr. H. Braybrook presided over an attendance of 18 subscribers. The report of library activities for the year stated that the highest number of subscribers was 204 and the lowest 183 in any month, and the average per month for the period was 195. There were at present 196 subscribers. From the commencement of the term to date 628 books were purchased and 698 repaired, and the total issued was 57,673. Last yeah the committee examined practically every book in the library to ascertain which were considered of no further use. By purging the shelves of books I more room would be available for new purchases. Over 600 books were’ set’ aside and of this number 400 were disposed of, realising £5 16s, and this sum was applied in purchasing additional books. The remainder were distributed between the school library and other deserving institutions. Mr. P. G. Nops donated to the library a photograph of the Napier ruins after | the earthquake. The mutilation and theft of papers and periodicals from the! reading room caused the committee and librarian concern, but the committee reported that a notice had had the desired i effect, as no papers had been removed for some time. It was also deemed ad- < visable to prohibit children under 12. years from using the reading room un? less accompanied by parents or guardians. . . ■ 1 /The. chairman thanked the members of ;

the committee for their services and the librarian, who had carried out her duties to the satisfaction of all. Mrs. Knight and Mr. Lovegrove were elected as the subscribers’ members of the library committee. Mrs. Faris and Mrs. Wanklyn, the two retiring representatives, declined nomination. A long discussion took place on the type of book purchased, several claiming that too much fiction was purchased and that readers who preferred other type of reading were not catered for on a fair percentage. Mr. Faris, snr., said he had had considerable experience with libraries, and in his opinion Inglewood had one of the best libraries for the size of the town. The library funds were limited and good books were expensive to buy. Following further discussion the following motions were- carried:-That it..be ; kcc ■ ■ /

a recommendation to the . library committee that in selection of books it take note of the expressed wishes of subscribers who prefer books other than fiction; that it be a recommendation to the committee, to ascertain from subscribers the . type of book thpy whjh to 1 ....... -• i ■ • iL- ■ 1.-' * •?« t'N’ij’i