GROWTH OF ALEXANDER PUBLIC LIBRARY UNDER MISS A. M. BLACKETT

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 December 1949, Page 4

GROWTH OF ALEXANDER PUBLIC LIBRARY UNDER MISS A. M. BLACKETT

The growth of the Alexander Public Library since Miss A. M. Blackett was appointed chief librarian early in 1918 was described by the chairman of the Library Committee, Cr. G. P. Hawkins, speaking at a farewell last night to Miss Blackett, who retires at the end of this year after nearly 32 years service with the council. She was entertained at supper at the conclusion of the City’s Council’s monthly meeting and presented with a crystal bowl and vase.

The Mayor, Hon. W. J. Rogers, M.L.C., said that Miss Blackett had lived in a world of literature and had done a great job for the city and people using the library. She had brought to her work a practical application and sound knowledge. Cr. Hawkins said that the council took over the library in 1918, the year that Miss Blackett joined, and at the time had 220 subscribers. At the end of the first council year the total number of volumes was 12,406 and of these 5800 were fiction. Subscribers totalled 588, and books circulated were 33,989. The juvenile department was established in 1919 with a stock of 430 books. The New Library Building, known as the Alexander Library, was occupied during 1933. Present staff under Miss Blackett’s control, said Cr Hawkins, was eight. Subscribers at September 30, 1949, were 2684, over 12 times as many as when she assumed control of the library nearly 32 years ago.

Cr. Hawkins paid a high tribute to Miss Blackett’s* work and the high esteem in which she was held by the New Zealand Library Association ,

Cr. T. N. Dickson, a former chairman of the Library Committee, said that Wanganui could be proud of the fact that it had a library second to none in New Zealand. Miss Blackett was know ( n in library circles from North Cape to the Bluff Miss Blackett, expressing thanks for the gifts, said that she had enjoyed her work and it had meant, a great deal to her. She hoped to remain in Wanganui for some time and would continue her library class at the Girls’ College.