The Public Library.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 433, 25 March 1890, Page 2

The Public Library.

The Gisborne Public Library has not had an altogether smooth existence, and we are glad to note anything which seems Co show that

it is m iking satisfactory progress. It will be remembered that some time ago the commit* tee decided to lower the subscription. We predicted that such a course would tend >o popularise the institution (though the step might have been taken earlier), and we think ihe fact that the membership was increased from 90 to 140 ia satisfactory evidence that our prediction was not far-fetched. It was not so much with regard to that point that w wished to speak, as of the fact that the Library has recently had an addition to the

Dumber of its volumes. The last batch is a small one, only some thirty odd volumes, but being as we understand, the first addition since August, 1888, it ought to have a good effect in increasing the number of subscribers to an institution which is sorely in need of them. Speaking from a literary point of view, one perhaps could not give undiluted praise to the selection. They are for the most part novels, and what most likely those persons who have educated themselves up to a high standard would call “ rubbish.” Bat a public library should more or kfi suit all tastes, and above all the popular taste, because it is really upon the people it must depend for its support. We look upon the new departure of getting books, few and often (which we understand is the intention of the committee), as a very wise policy. If the popular taste ii to be hit a number of those books must be novels, and it will be for the selection committee to see that they are of the beat class. We believe that a great deal of the advantage that private libraries have over the Public Library is the latter’s too conservative mode of seketing books in the past, and although the library contains a great many valuable works, they are such as are mostly of use to those who could afford to buy them out of their private funds. Tne latest addition, though nothing to boast about, should hit the popular taste. Those not new have tho merit of being good, while those called new ones are really new—many of them being 1890 publications. We have not space to describe the books, but we may, just at random, indicate a few of the authors. Those who have read , and admired ‘ Tom Brown’s School Days,* will be glad to get the author's * The Scouring of the White Horse,’ and ‘ The Ashen Faggot ’; the two are conjoined in one, and were first published in 1858 and 1862 respectively. George MacDonald is represented by ‘ The Vicar’e Daughter ’ ;|Smma Jane Worboiee by ‘Joan Carisbrooke,’and the ‘ Story of Penelope ’; Edna Lyall (nf one of whose books it was once written,* It should do as much good as the best sermon ever written or delivered extemnore ’) by * A H'irdy Norseman *; W. Clark Russel by ‘ The Wreck of the Grosvenor,’ and by the more recent ‘ Marooned ’ and ‘An Ocean Free Lince ’; 0 M. Yooga by • < Reputed Changeling’; Mrs Alexander by ‘ A Crooked Path ’; and Thomas. Hardy by ‘ Desperate Remedies.’ There ia a new edition of William Black’s far Loohabar.’ The author of the notable navel. ‘ The Silence of Doan Maitland,’ contributes ‘ The Reproach of Annersly.’ ‘Wild Darrie,’ by Obrietie Murray and Henry Hernan, which was pub-

lished in the Christmas number of an illustrated paper, is here in book form. Two novels ‘ with a purpose,’ but very different ones, are George Gissing’a ‘ The Nether World,’ and Gilbert Bishop’s ‘The Beachcombers.’ And besides all these there are works by M. E. Braddon. Christie Murray, Amelia E. Barr, L. B. Walford, J. Fogerty, and others. Those who are subscribers will soon be able to ascertain for themselveg whether all these works are ‘ rubbish ’ or not: those who are not subscribers could not find a

more suitable time than the present to enrol themselves.