WANGANUI PUBLIC LIBRARY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19866, 14 June 1927, Page 6

WANGANUI PUBLIC LIBRARY

Sir, —I have to thank Mr J. Siddells for his informative letter of Juno 7 on the above matter and, with your permission, will refer to some of his fig> ures, which are, I am sure without intention on his part, misleading. He tells us that the Library rate struck last year produced £1175. The ratepayers aro entitled to know how much of this was spent on tho Library, and what became of the balance—for there was a very considerable balance. Further, ho says that the amount expended in books has gone up from £163 to £619. He does not remember that the price of books has trebled since the war time, or that the membership of the subscribers has threefold. Further, he says that the adult members’ subscription has only increased from £406 to £544, the natural inference being that this latter amount is the total income from, the subscribers. This is quite misleading. The income, apart from the rates, is approximately £700; as a matter of fact, the subscribers are paying at least half the cost of the Public Library, which, I understand, is £1202, a very reasonable cost for so important and necessary an institution. Mr Siddells says, in conclusion, that neither Mr Worry nor himself know tho chief assistant whom they so summarily dismissed, so we can reasonably assume that they are unacquainted with the rest of the staff. Owing to the very long hours—tho Library is open 12 hours a day—it is absolutely necessary to have a first assistant of good personality, for at no time should such a valuable property be left in solo charge of a junior. At present the public get a comfortable, well-furnished readingroom, an excellent reference library, and attendance free, at a very small cost to tho ratepayers. This will be much improved when the Alexander legacy, which tlte Council holds in trust, is available. Do you think, sir, that the proposed treatment of this excellent institution is likely to induce similar gifts to this city? Mr Siddells expresses surprise that I had not consulted him in the matter. I would have done so with pleasure, but have been out of town for some weeks, and have had no opportunity. My earnest desire is that the Council give the matter full consideration, and that they do not impair the value of a very necessary institution to every modern city. J. H. B. June 13.