The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Morning. Thursday, July 18, 1889. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 326, 18 July 1889, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Morning.

Thursday, July 18, 1889. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Bo just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim'st at bo thy Thy God's, and truth’s,

Though it is late in the day to begin a reform we must congratulate those who have the interest of the Gisborne Public Library at heart on the new departure that has been taken, and we hope that the general public will not be slow in showing their appreciation of the change. The old Committee worked very hard in the interests of the instifiv tion and Mr Lucas went to much trouble in the fulfilment of the duty of Secretary, which is a position that taxes one’s energies at all times, and more especially so when there can be no overlooking the fact that the object in view is languishing. Mr Watson also did good service while he acted as Secretary. But all this labor only makes more plain the fact that a mistake occurred in the first instance in not making a determined attempt to popularise the institution, instead of raising the subscription and tpa'iing the reading-room so secluded. We are glad the mistake has been acknowledged, and hope to see a hearty co-operation in plaging the institution on a basis that will make it a credit to tha district in place of what if threatened to become, a standing disgrace to the intelligence of the community. During ;he last eighteen months there has been ipuch ground lost; the local literary and other societies have deemed if wise to begin the establishment of libraries on their own account, in the country small lending libraries have been started, and then the local booksellers have been stimulated to a competition which cannot be ignored, All this has to be contended with in the future, and there are many obstacles to an attempt to popularise the institution at the present time. But there is every reason to hope that it can be done. Fresh life has been introduced into the management, and the new Committeemen have more heart to take up the thing again than those, however efficient, who have been wearied by a continual struggle on behalf of the institution. The new Committee will besides have the sympathy iit)d help of those whose places the? have taken, and If success cannot be attained —of course after an amount of trouble has been gone to—then it is about time the doors of the Library were closed, and that visitors to the district were allowed to look down upon us as beings without the cultivated tastes and noble aspirations which have been the guidance of all good men, The Library contains a large stock of works in art, literature, and science which, by reason of the expense, would otherwise be unobtainable except by those wb,o are in good circumstances. The Library ought to be an institution for the people, and is deserving of the support of all classes. Admitting that it is not creditable that out of a population of four thousand barely a hundred can be found to take sufficient interest in the Library to become subscribers, the

cause should also be looked to (and we are glad to see has now been) as well as effect. The fact stated in the report is alone sufficient justification for the withdrawal of the Government subsidy, and in any case we must reconcile ourselves to the truth that no further help need be expected from that source. What may be expected, though, is a large amount of public support. Seeing the small d-ffercnceit makes, say about four pounds a year, we think it would have been wise to adopt Mr Dunlop’s suggestion in regard to the reading room, but the effect of the _ liberal measures adopted will give an idea as to what results may be anticipated. What is wanted now is an energetic Secretary with plenty of time at his disposal, to make an active canvass for subscribers. No time should be lost in getting these things done, because a great deal depends on a good commencement, and it will be a disgrace to Gisborne if the effort does not succeed.