U.S. Library in N.Z. Closed, but Contents to Remain in Dominion

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 August 1947, Page 6

U.S. Library in N.Z. Closed, but Contents to Remain in Dominion

(PA.) Parliament Bldgs., July 31 The entire collection of the United States Information Library in Wellington, recently closed as the result of American Congressional economy measures, will be placed on loan in custody of the National Library Service, it was jointly announced today by the Minister of Education (MiMason) and the American Legation. Mr. Mason said the National Library Service would make the material of the collection available to interested users through the facilities of the inter-library loan system sponsored by the New Zealand Library Association and the National Library Service. . Expressing his appreciation of tne action of the New Zealand Government. which had made it possible to retain this collection in the Dominion, the American Charge d'Affaires termed it an outstanding gesture of international goodwill which could lead only to even closer knowledge and understanding between the peoples of the two countries. Mr. Mason said the oGvernment was grateful to the United States Government for placing this extensive collection in New Zealand hands. He paid tribute to Miss Mary Parsons who, in addition to her work as director of the United States Information Library since its establishment, had organised with distinction the first professional library school in New Zealand.

“Miss Parsons,” said the Minister, “is a true internationalist, for wl.lfc she has so well demonstrated the magnificent library and other resources of her own country, she has, through her work with New Zealand librarians, shown that culture has no national frontiers.”