COLLEGE LIBRARY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20485, 11 December 1934, Page 8

COLLEGE LIBRARY.

Room for 7000 More Books. There will be room, if necessary, for seven thousand more books in the Canterbury College library when new metal book-stacks are fitted in the basement before the end of January. Mr C. W. Collins, librarian, announced this morning that the College Council had ordered the new stacks, which were expected to cost just over £2OO, from a Wellington firm of engineers. “ We did not expect to be able to get them made in New Zealand.” said Mr Collins. “ A firm in Wellington, however, is constructing the shelves under license from an English firm. They will be similar to those used in the most up-to-date libraries in England and America. Made of sheet steel, they will be more easily adjustable than wooden racks, will take up much less space, and will be fireproof. The only other similar set installed in New Zealand is in the General Assembly library in Parliament buildings, so that these will be the first in the South Island.” In February the congestion on the main floor of the library will be much relieved by the moving of certain classes of books to the basement. This will be one of the main steps in the general improvement required by the Carnegie Corporation before making a substantial grant to the college library. “ These metal stacks were primarily selected as they would be easily transferable to any new building that may be constructed in the future,” added Mr Collins.