The Gisborne Library.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 327, 20 July 1889, Page 2

The Gisborne Library.

[TO THE EDITOR.] Sin, —Judging by the lender in thia morning’s Standard, you, and possibly tome portion of the public, seem to expect the subscribers to the Gisborne Public Library to provide for not only their own literary needs, but to find a reading room lighted, warmed, cleaned, well provided with the best papers and periodicals, with the attendance of a salaried attendant, for the enjoyment of the non-subscribing public. Experience has shown that this cannot be done, and the attempt to do ft, or, more recently, provide non-subscribers with these advantages at much less than cost ' price, is the sole cause of the present shortness of funds. Such a reading room, maintained by one-tenth of the community for the benefit of the non.subscribing nine-tenths, is surely a curious conception of what a free public reading room ought to be. If a larger proportion of the p iblio will provide the necessary funds by subscribing on the reduced scale, or even a lower charge, well and good. It would then more properly deserve the name of a Public Library. At present its claim to be so considered rests on the site, the building, and books being equally the property of every member of the community on absolutely equal terms. If the public take advantage of Lhe now very moderate subscription to an extent that will justify the opening of the reading room free of charge, lot them do so. The responsibility rests with them and not with the Committee,—l am, Ac., G. L. Gmsnwood. July 18th, 1880.