PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2771, 29 March 1910, Page 5

PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

CONFERENCE AT DUNEDIN. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, March 28. The first conference of representatives from the public libraries of the Dominion .'convened by the Dunedin City Council), opened in the Town Hall on Saturday. Delegates were present from' the Dunedin City Council. Wellington City Council, Auckland City Council, the Leys Institute (Auckland), Turanganui and Parliamentary Libraries, and the Dunedin Athenaeum. The delegates were welcomed by Mr. J. H. Walker (Mayor), who said he trusted the duties they were about to enter on would fulfil their best wishes and prove valuable to- the whole of the institutions in the Dominion, and that their value might he further accentuated by holding conferences on the same lines periodically in different centres. In responding to the welcome, Mr. Leys said that public libraries were not on the footing they should be, consider, ing their importance as educators to the masses of the people. He did not think their importance was appreciated by those in authority. He referred to what he described as the deplorable spectacle of country libraries being practically wiped out by one stroke of a Minister’s pen. If the conference could get the'Government to understand and appreciate the value of public libraries as parts of the system of national education, its existence would be justified. Mr. Gilkison was appointed chairman of the conference, and Mr R. W. Richards (town clerk) was appointed hon. secretary. The Chairman addressed the delegates. .He referred to the benefits that would result from the conference. The formation -of an association, .he said, would be a strong bond of union amongst those having like objects in different towns, and would lead to the development of a clear body of national opinion in matters which would greatly assist all present and future public libraries in New Zealand. He would like to see the State take a more active interest in public libraries. He hoped that, before the conference closed, a resolution would be adopted urging Parliament to recognise its responsibilities in the direction of looking after the general provision of these most necessary means of education. It was resolved to form an association to be called the Libraries Association of New Zealand. A draft of the proposed constitution of the association was read, and, after a short discussion, it was resolved to refer it to a committee consisting of Messrs Gilkison, Baillie, Leys, McEwan, Atkinson, Morrell, ana Parr. Mr. Wilson (Chief Parliamentary Librarian) read a paper entitled “The Se_ lection and Purchase of Books for- Public Libraries.” * In the matter of the selection of books, he submitted a librarian should be allowed overy latitude and freedom, and should have personal responsibility and personal authority. There should be, of course, revisions of librarians’ selections. The secretary read Dr. Frengley’s paper on ‘Library Hygiene.” It was resolved to refer discussion till Monday.