A SCHOOL LIBRARY.

Waipa Post, Volume XIX, Issue 1054, 12 February 1921, Page 5

A SCHOOL LIBRARY.

(To the Editor).

Sir—With your kind permission I would like to trespass on your valuable space in explanation of the appeal for reading matter for the scholars of the Te Awamutu District High School. The sum of £23 was raised by means of picture entertainments last year. This amount is subsidised by the Education Board on a £ for £ basis, making the sum of £46 available for the purchase of books. Most of this amount is already expended, making a very fair start for the library; but as our school roll shows nearly 400 scholars at least half of whom would be sufficiently advanced to use the library, it will be seen that a fairly large number of books will be required. It is proposed to have a separate library for each standard, thus providing books suitable for the age and reading capacity i f each class. When sufficient books are in hand it is intended to allow the children to take the books home. The committee believes that there are many unused books suitable for boys and girls put by in almost every family. The present appeal offers a splendid opportunity to put these unused books into permanent commission. It is proposed to paste a label in each book with the name of the donor inscribed, thus affording a permanent memorial to the liberality of the giver. Under the supervision of the present headmaster (Mr Walker) the school is adopting the most up-tp-date methods, one innovation being that when written lessons are set any scholar, and whose work is finished before the time allowed has expired, that scholar is permitted the privilege of quietly leaving h,is or her seat, procuring a book from the library, and returning to the class to fill in the balance of the time in reading.

All books donated will carry a £ for £ subsidy on their value, this, sum being paid by the Education Board. In conclusion, I commend this appeal particularly to those who have grown-up families whose tastes in literature have out-grown the books of their younger days. Any books passed into our library will afford pleasure not to one or two but probably to hundreds, for the books will be read by a fresh class every year'for as long as they will hold together.—l am, etc.,

CHAS. F. BATTSON, Chairman District School Committee