FAIRLIE LIBRARY’S FUTURE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21051, 1 June 1938, Page 11

FAIRLIE LIBRARY’S FUTURE

Free Facilities Advocated Value of New System For some time the question of making the Fairlie Library free has been before the Mackenzie County Council, and a report from the engineer-clerk (Mr D. Jeune), in which that step is advocated, will be considered by the Council at its meeting on Friday. The report states that the Council at present contributes up to £l5O a year to the library, and the number of ratepayer subscribers is approximately 70. Those ratepayers have to pay 10/- a year each to be members of the library. For approximately £lOO a year, the library could be made free to all ratepayers and their families. The report adds that the present libraries at Cave and Albury could continue under I the existing arrangement, and the Fairlie library could lend them about 30 books each every month. A system had been worked out which, if put into practice, would allow every ratepayer in the county to receive books regularly from the Fairlie library. Reference is made to the provisions in the Government's country library service. which could be applied to the district. “The country library service provides for a regular loan of books from a central source, together with practical help in library management," states the report. “This is to be provided by means of specially designed vans, which will carry and display 1000 books and visit each centre at least once every four months. The service consists of the supply and exchange every fourth month of 100 books, that is 300 books per annum. Possibly our library might get further numbers. The annual charge would be £B. In the ordinary course that sum would purchase 24 books. Extended Library Facilities “Under the country library service system, it is possible for each person living in country districts, however remote, to be as well served with library facilities as a city dweller. The service aims at providing a loan, a free service of fifteen books per 100 of population, where certain minimum standards are maintained, and a free library service is given to the residents of the area. It will not, however, lend even at contract rates to a library if an adequate free service is not given. “The Fairlie Library needs several items of new equipment. In addition, it has a collection of books which are almost priceless in value, and which are not to be found in even the major libraries of the county. These should be securely housed under lock and key. Further junior assistance should be provided, so that trained assistance could be available when the librarian was away. A unique opportunity is presenting itself to this county to be in the forefront with what in ten years’ time, will be the established custom. Its non-acceptance would be a block to the community’s progress. “The country library service is one of the most progressive steps ever made, and no library could benefit more from it than the Fairlie Library. The Fairlie Library is unique as far as rural libraries are concerned, and is probably one of the best, if not the best rural library’ in New Zealand. Its 8000 volumes will form a nucleus which under the new system would make it really outstanding. In addition, the library would be able to obtain any book In any of the main libraries, or even from the General Assembly’ Library. The first essential condition is that the library should be free. From a business point of view as far as this county and our library is concerned, that condition is preferable to our present system. Factor in Adult Education “Libraries have been receiving more and more of the attention due to them in late years, and the undeniable fact is gradually becoming acknowledged that they are not luxuries but necessities. Libraries are part and parcel of adult education, and we are gradually learning that this neglected phase of our national development and improvement must not be neglected if we are to develop as a nation. Even if we look back a few short years to the period of the depression, and realise how many children left school several years before they would have in the normal course of events we must realise that there will be a generation of people in our country who will be lacking in adequate educational standards, unless we can provide some form of adult education for them. “If we go further back, we have the period when education was not as free as it is now, and the average school leaving age of the children, was much lower, with the consequential curtailment of the educational period. Even in the best of periods now, with children attending the full course of education, it is acknowledged that the best period of mind development, from 25 to 40, is not entered upon, and a system of adult education after the usual school and university period, is of great benefit. “The foregoing may seem apart from the subject of our library, but when ’t is understood that libraries with drama and the arts and sciences, comprise the main part of adult education, it can be seen that it has a direct bearing on the matter. It is not so many years ago that the advance was made to our present free education system, and to-day in England and America, free library facilities are synonymous with free educational facilities. The Government has recognised the value of the library to the nation, and has instituted the country library service.