LITERARY ADVISER TO AID CHILDREN AT LIBRARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17862, 2 June 1926, Page 1

LITERARY ADVISER TO AID CHILDREN AT LIBRARY.

HELPS THEM TO SELECT SUITABLE BOOKS, TELLS STORIES, AND LECTURES. The encouragement'of children to read 'books for pleasure and profit is being, made, a feature in Christchurch. This- is being done through the children’s department of the Canterbury Public Library. “ Tables . and chairs of a suitable height, and low shelving that enables the boys and girls to see the books' arc provided in the room, and thei;e are a. large number, of picture books and children's publications available for reading, and it is gratifying, to see boys and girls, varying in ages from ten to sixteen years, quietly • reading the good publications provided, ”. said Mr E. J. Bell, librarian, to-day. An interesting piece of y : work undertaken by the librarian last year was the = campaign 'for .books. A' book crisis was brought about by an inade quate book fund and a rapidly increas ing membership. The generous arjd sympathetic response of Christchurch people was expressed by the pouring into .the library of about 1600 books. Also, a sum of money was given for the purchase of suitable new books. One result of the campaign has been that the habit of giving has never ceased. Every month records a few more books given to the library. This department of the library has now entered a most important phase, for, yesterday, children visiting the library found a very sympathetic lady in attendance, and she was willing to aid them in selecting suitable books. This lady is Miss R. Ray, M A., the newly-appointed literary adviser to the children's library, who commenced her duties for the first time yesterdav afternoon. Miss Ray, who has had considerable experience in the matter of children's reading, has been appointed by the Board of Governors to carry out daily the work of advising and helping the children to select books as well as giving a series of talks and story hours to the boys and girls using the library. Miss Ray will work under the direction of Mr Bell, and a weekly programme ■will be drawn up. This evening, in response to many requests, Mr Bell, the librarian, will again broad cast children's bed-time stories from the local radio station 3AC, the session lasting from 7.20 to 8 p.m.