LIBRARY SURVEY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19803, 19 May 1934, Page 21

LIBRARY SURVEY

MR MUNN SUMS UP. By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, May 18. “It is quite clear, in my mind, that New Zealanders do much less reading than we in the United States,” said Mr Ralph Munn, who will leave to-day for Sydney, after surveying New Zealand libraries on behalf of the Carnegie Corporation. “Certainly the American public libraries are used to a vastly greater extent. I place part of the credit for for reading habits of the average American to the system of children’s libraries. American libraries are entirely free to all residents, and every conceivable effort is made to interest children.” A few of the more progressive New Zealand libraries were fully aware of the value of the work for children, but this was a recent development. Too many New Zealand libraries still paid no attention to children, and hoped to make readers out of people after they grew up. That might also account for the overwhelming demand for light, cheap fiction in New Zealand. He sincerely hoped that when the economic conditions improved, Library Committees would strengthen their children’s service. Even if the adult subscriptions were maintained the children’s service should be free. The subscriptions from children amounted to an almost negligible sum, but they acted as a bander, keeping thousands of children from the library. He hoped others would follow Christchurch in making the children’s service free.