GERALDINE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21324, 19 April 1939, Page 4

GERALDINE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Committee’s Efforts a

Success Year Reviewed That 355 new books had been added to the library during the year was reported by the chairman <Mr F Xf McKenzie) at the first annual meeting of the Geraldine Library Management Committee on Monday evening. Mr McKenzie .said that this- was a very good number considering that the money had been raised by subscription.': and donations only. This compared favour; bly with other country libraries, he said, and he would like to see more townspeople join up. The secretary <Mr J. J. McGuigan, said that £7O had been spent on new books during the year and subscriptions had totalled £5O and by these figures the subscribers could see that they had got more than their money's worth. Although a grant of £4O was received from the Geraldine Borough Council the committee did not receive it in full as a certain sum had been deducted for a fighting charge. Actually the cost of running the reading room was more than the £4O. said Mr McGuigan. In moving the adoption of the balance-sheet, which showed that after accounts amounting to £l7 had come in there would be a credit balance of £9. Mr F. W. Grayburn congratulated the committee on the successful n- anagement of the library. He said that certain people In the town had said that they would not join until there were more new books on the shelves. It was evident that they did not know the number of new books the committee had added. Annual Report The first annual report presented by the secretary stated that a management committee comprising -epresentatives of the subscribers had been set up in November, 1937. with a view to making the library more attractive. The Borough Council had agreed to pay £4O a year for maintenance of the reading

room, but this barely covered expenses. A librarian at £52 a year had een dispensed with and replaced by a caretaker at £26 a year. Messrs J. J. McGuigan. P. M. McKenzie and Mesdames F. W. Morgan and F. W. Graybur. had acted as voluntary libri_rians. Subscriptions had been reduced front 15/to 10/- a year, and there were now 125 financial members. Few books numbering 355 had been placed on the shelves and a card index system introduced. They were indebted t< Toe H for helping to cover books. Finances had beer, helped by a street stall, community sing and gifts from citizens.

The report was adopted on the motion of Mr F. W. ai.d Mrs A. Mackay. The Mayor (Mr I>. C. McKechnie) said that as a subscriber he wished to express thanks to the members of the committee who had given up so much of their time to briny about an improvement in the library. They should not lose sight of the possibility of establishing a combi._ed town and county library at Geraldine. -f the libraries throughout the area combined and pooled their resources, readers could be given a bigger selection of books and the library could cater for special tastes.

Election r f Officers

The election of officers resulted as follows: Chairman. Mr F. M. McKenzie; secretary, Mr J. J. McGuigan; treasurer. Mr N. McGregor; comm:,tee. Mesdames F. W. Grayburn. L. R. R. King. F. W. Morgan, A J. Burmsteer and Miss Henry. Messrs D. Robertson, E. Broad and A. K. Easterbrook (subscribers); Messrs E. N. J. Hannah and H. Russell (Borough Council). A motion of thanks was parsed to the caretaker (Mrs - E. Pierce) for Hie extra work she had carried cut at no cost to the committee. PERSONAL Reference to the death of the Rev. Canon J. F. Coursey, the foundation chairman of the Management Committee of the Geraldine Public Library, was made in the animal report presented to the annual meeting of subscribers on Monday evening. The report stated that a 'otter of condolence had been sent to his wife and family. Mr Harold Undrlll, accompanied by his mother, has left on a motor tour of the West Coast. DOUBLE PROGRAMME Mysterious and intrigue - ridden Morocco forms the romantic setting tor Paramount's latest "Bulldog Drummond" adventure story "Bulldog Drummond in Africa.” which will be screened at the Municipal Theatre tonight. together with Paramount's "The Mysterious Rider.” a story of a masked horseman who commits bold robberies and donates the proceeds to the poor, who becomes the most feared figure in the West without ever hurting an honest man and w T ho saves the ranch of a beautiful young girl from rustlers without revealing his identity. The annual reunion of the Geraldine Returned Soldiers’ Association will be held in the Town Hall to-morrow night. A public meeting of women will be held in the Geraldine Parish Hall on Friday. April 21, at 8 p.m. to discuss the formation of a branch of the Red Cross in Geraldine. Mr E. Cholerton. optical specialist proprietor of Procter’s, the Premier Opticians, Christchurch, will be visiting Geraldine, personally, on Wednesday. April 19. when he may be consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Crown Hotel. Appointments can now be made by ringing Mr Morris Williams, chemist, 'phone 61