A PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1788, 29 July 1926, Page 5

A PUBLIC LIBRARY.

'Sir, —Some time ago e lady who, I 'believe, resides near Te Awamutu, interested herlself sufficiently in the provision of a more up-to-c\ate public library for the town —the present library . is of little/ use for practical purposes —to the extent of asking the Borough (Council to take stteps to convene a public meeting of all interested with a view to devising ways and meanfe of providing a new library or of augmenting the present one. There are several hundred books on the shelves at the •Town Hall, all in decent order, I grant you’ but woefully out of date, and therefore. for the most part, of little use. ■Perhaps a hundred or two of them are worth keeping on the shelves. The ■Mayor and councillors may think' the library iis adequate, bult I venture the opinion that those gentlemen are the only persons who do. Now, sir, in a recent conversation with a member of your staff I gathered' the impression that; if a number of townspeople would donate among 'them, Isay, one hundred readable volumes —fiction, fact, or otherwise —you would willingly add to that number. I do not know your views, blit I do think the idea should be put forward. The borough office staff at present attends to the wants of the' people who patronise the present library, without apparently finding the task arduous. I Isuggest that little labour or time would be involved if a couple of hundred additional books by more modern authors were on the .shelves. If that is so, for goodness’ sake help a long-suffering public to persuade the Borough Council to convene such a meeting a-s suggested. You see, if the newer books are available, people will become subscribers, and their subscription of ten shillings each, would be available for the purchase of more new books. I was going to suggest, also, that the Borough Coun--1 oil, for the first year, at any rate, subsidise bona fide subscriptions; but the thought occurs to me that if this were done the borough councillors might insist that they Iselect the 'books! I can hear' some peqple say —, and I echo it. I would not mind one or two of the councillors exercising their discretion in a matter like this; but, judging by your published reports of remarks and opinions expressed at council meetings—oh, dear, no! However, joking apart, what about it? Will the 'Mayor please convene a meeting of all interested,? Meantime I am Willing, if several other people do likewise to provide half a dozen or so modern bookjs as a : guarantee of good faith, andi also to pay my subscription as a member of the library. If the* Mayor doubts that there is a desire for a more up-to-date library, let him say so, and then other people will know whether or not to expect a move from the proper ‘quarter. Meantime perhaps isome of your readers will support me with practical evidence that they also want a library. But please do not suggest stocking a reading, room, too. That will only cause further delay, for tlje, Borough Council is notoriously short of funds for educative purpose's. With best .wishes for prompt action, I am,-etc., , - . . RESIDENT.