CAMBRIDGE LIBRARY

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 5637, 17 June 1914, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE LIBRARY

ANNUAL MEETING. A meeting of ratepayers of the Cambridge borough, and of subscribers to the library, was held last evening, Rev. Father Murphy being voted to the chair. Annual Report and Balance-sheet. The report stated that both library and reading-room were well patronised. For the first time the committee had entire control of the affairs of the library, instead of being subservient to the borough council for financial concerns, and the change had worked most successfully. Under the borough bylaws the council makes a grant to the library, plus the rent of the old building, which is equivalent to £9O or £95 per annum; but additional income is necessary, and this is provided by subscriptions, and by the Government subsidy, which last year amounted to 1'23 4s 3d. The readingroom is largely used, especially on Sundays, all the leading papers of the Dominion and a much extended supply of magazines now being available. The balance-sheet was for the year ended December 31st last, in accordance with the requirements of the Government subsidy. The balance brought forward was £43 12s 7d, the total income being £217 13s fid, and the expenditure £212 18s Id, leaving a balance in hand of £1 15s Id. The decrease in the credit balance was partially due to the purchase of new books, etc., and improvements in the readingroom. Some youths had been unruly in the reading room, r d some papers had been stolen; if the offenders could be identified they would be prosecuted. The committee had every reason to believe that as regards literature in the reading-room and the books in the lending department, the Cambridge library will be found to compare more than favourably A'ith any similar institution in any cou.itry district in the Dominion.

Both report and balance-sheet were considered very BpME?aciory, and they were unanimously adopted. A Reference Library. Air G. Dickinson stated that he and Mi James Daily, as trustees of a fund raised to build a library in days past, contempla! J presen dig the Cambridge public w'Mi u reference library, if the committee would fird mom for it in the reading-room. —The incoming committee will discuss the matter with the trustees, and make the necessary arrangements.

The Flection. The library committee consists of seven members, four of which had been appointed by the borough council, viz., Crs Bryce and Middleton, Dr. Roberts and Father Murphy.

i The ratepayers and subscribers elect the remaining three, and Messrs G. Taylor, A. Wilkinson, and J. P. Aslier were unanimously re-elected. A hearty vote of thanks to the j late committee concluded the meet- : ing. . At a subsequent meeting of the ! committee Father Murphv was rej elected chairman, and Mr Asher hon. I secretary. The latter was complimented upon the manner in which he had carried out the duties, the major portion of the success of the institution being attributed to him,