REV. J. H. G. CHAPPLE AND THE LIBRARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14481, 30 June 1911, Page 4

REV. J. H. G. CHAPPLE AND THE LIBRARY.

It is not our place to determine whether the Rev. J. H. G. Chapglo, .as municipal librarian, has or has not introduced an undue proportion of rationalistic books into the library. Even if. as the Rev. A. M. Caldwell complains, an excessive number , ot such works have been placed on the shelves since the present librarian's appointment, Mr Caldwell Ims made no answer to the reply that, with the exception of one book since removed, all the new books placed upon the shelves' have been " passed " by ■ the selection committee. If it is suggested that the committer may have passed some of the books without knowing much of their contents, that does not provent the main responsibility front ly in ff; at their door, and > not At the librarian's. Mr Oaldwell argues justly that in a small library, constituted as a benefaction ' ' to citizens of all opinions,'there is scant room for either rationalistic or theological works, and if < there is, strong reason to suppoM | that an undue preponderance of 1 the former have been purchased for the library, the position ceiv tamly requires to be investj* pated. Where Mr Oaldwell erred, it seem* us, was in referring • his complain,t . indirectly to the Education .Board, instead pf directly , to the. Borough Council, and making it a reflection upon Mr Goodwin, who after all it only one member of the Council* and . a new . member, 1 and whose responsibility for books added to the Library in the hist' seven months is too small to be considered. There, is nothing in* - compatible between the positions - 1 • held by Mr Chappie as the minister in charge of a Unitarian i.-oo- . gregation and municipal libra-'' riftn, provided he can keep them l quite apart, doing justice to the duties of the library, and above all never mistaking it for his church.' .In justice both ,to Mr Chappie and to Mr Caldwell, we , should like to see a motion passed at the next meeting of the Bo- ' rough Council, calling for a re« turn of books which have been adder! to the library since the appointment of the present libra* nan. Such a litre, even if it , revealed the 'unfair of ' • a certain-class of literature which Mr Caldwell alleges, would reflect as much upon the selection committee as on their officer, but at least'it would show the Council and the p.ublio what the : position was, and provide a guide for shaping the policy of the' library in future. The manage-, ment of the library has been im* j pugned, and it is due to the Council, to Mr Chappie, and to the ratepayers that the position should be investigated by the Council.,