1931 - Annual Convention

              S E V E N T E E N T H A N N U A L C O N V E N T I ON 83
These appear to us to he very important changes in our Act as they open
up the way tor the development of l i b r a r y service in districts that may not
for a good many years be ready to establish a municipal l i b r a r y under the
regular conditions. We have already several places in the province which
should be able immediately to profit by these changes, and we hope that other
voluntary organizations may appear in f a i r l y rapid succession to occupy the
field. The L i b r a r y A s s o c i a t i o n is doing what it can to make the provisions
of the new Act known, and will be glad to have correspondence from any
individual or organization interested.
There is another provision of the new Act which we also think is very
important. Until now no minister was directly responsible for the adminis­t
r a t i o n of the L i b r a r y Act, or for the general supervision of l i b r a r y service,
but now the care of libraries has been definitely placed in the hands of the
M i n i s t e r of Education, so that we have now a court of appeal. In this con­nection,
it is g r a t i f y i n g to be able to say that M r . Baker has throughout
shown very genuine interest in the matter of l i b r a r y service.
As our situation stands today, then, the P r o v i n c i a l Government says that
it will help any public library service to the maximum amount of $ 350.00,
dollar for dollar up to $ 300,00 for the money spent l o c a l l y on the purchase of
books, and $ 50.00 for periodicals. The recent concession, by which voluntary
organizations as well as organized municipal libraries, may qualify for this
grant, is of extreme value to us, and is, perhaps, the greatest help that l i b r a ry
service in the province could be given at this time.
The next movement rests with the districts that want book service.
A l r e a d y there are signs that the next movement in library service in the
province w i l l be an increase in the number of smaller libraries, most of which
may, for some years at least, be run by voluntary organizations under such
regulations as the Minister of Education lays down. It is very cheering to
know that there is a library service of this sort already inaugurated, or in
contemplation, in L l o y d m i n s t e r , Raymond, Cardston, Blairmore, Canmorc, and
I hear. Macleod. In Raymond the town council has given a room in the new
town hall and provides the services of a l i b r a r y attendant. In Cardston the
church is g i v i n g l i b r a r y room in one of its buildings, and a board has been
appointed. So that for the first t i m e in a good many years, there is a
" sound of moving in the tree- tops."
Perhaps the best thing I could do in the closing minute or two of my
address, is to point out what I think are the main things that should be
attempted in a newly organized l i b r a r y effort. As the government grant is
dollar for dollar, some money is needed, and after a good many years in
l i b r a r y service, I have been unable to find out any way of avoiding that need
of money. I would suggest that in any new effort, a subscription list be
opened, and a strong attempt made to enlist wide interest on the basis of a
small membership fee per annum. Then, that the local council be approached
for a grant. Under our present l aw municipal councils are permitted to make
direct donations for l i b r a r y service. Then the government should be approach­ed
for its grant. It makes a very strong t a l k i n g point with possible sub­scribers
if y o u are in a position to say to them that the council will give a
grant for each dollar subscribed, and that the government will do its part,
so that each dollar membership may be w o r t h possibly $ 4.00 in cash income
to the library. As to quarters, no special advice can be given here, as each
local situation w i l l vary, but even if no more accommodation can be obtained
than a place to house the books and make exchange of them possible by
- i . 1 . . . Kottar fn,.; iitini mien no.
readers, start should be made with that until better facilities open up.