The Rushden Echo, 7th May, 1943, transcribed by Gill Hollis
Rushden Children’s Own Library
Council Chairman Opens Junior Department
A junior department of the Rushden Public Library was opened on Wednesday evening by Mr. A. F. Weale, J.P., chairman of the Urban Council. It has been set up at small cost by re-equipping what was formerly the reference room, and it brings together all the children’s books, fictional and otherwise, with good facilities for selection and issue.
On Wednesday the room was beautifully decorated with flowers. Before Coun. Weale unlocked the door a meeting of councillors and members of the Library Committee, with the staff, was held in another room, where Coun. J. T. Richardson, J.P., who has just become chairman of the Library Committee, made the first speech.
“We who are here are fortunate,” said Mr. Richardson. “It makes us almost envious of the young folk of to-day to think that they have the privilege and opportunity that we as youngsters did not have.”
He was only a youngster, just come to Rushden, when he found himself linked with some others to go from door to door asking people for contributions towards the purchase of the land on which the library now stood, and he would never forget it, because of some of the things that were said. Some people were complimentary and ready to help according to their ability, but others were critical, and one lady said “If you had asked me for something towards a swimming bath I would have been willing to contribute.”
Proud Possessions
Both library and swimming bath came into being, and they were proud to have them in their midst, but he did not think that anyone in the old days imagined the vast amount of use that would be made of the library buildings.
“A vast number of people use them,” said Mr. Richardson, “and of that we are glad. If we can make the library better and encourage the study of books by the children we shall feel we are doing something worth-while which will reveal itself in the uplift, education and character of Rushden in the coming days.”
Mr. Weale said he deemed it a great honour as well as a privilege to be able to declare open the room which was being put aside solely for the children’s reading, and he wished to say that a great tribute was due to the staff, who had been almost solely instrumental in bringing the library up to date.
Rapid Progress
Eight years ago the number of books issued was about 40,000. Last year 124,000 were issued. That was undoubtedly rapid progress. Of those that were issued, nearly 30,000 were issued to juveniles. This showed that the children of Rushden were anxious to have books to read in their homes, and he felt that the Library Committee were doing the right thing in extending the service so that the children could have everything they needed in the way of reading.
Reading was knowledge, and knowledge was a great factor both in defeating our enemies and bringing happiness and prosperity into our country.
The reading of good books was a foundation of the education of the youth of this country, and therefore they were doing the right thing in opening a special room to them, making it a separate department and caring for the special reading matter for them.
Before declaring the room open “for the exclusive use of the young people of Rushden,” Mr. Weale thanked the staff “for what they have been so anxious to do” and announced that the department was going to be in the hands of Miss Childs, who he believed to be a very efficient young lady.
More Books Needed
When the company had entered the new department there was a speech by Coun. A. H. Bailey, ex-chairman of the Library Committee, who said the project had been planned for some months, in face of difficulties which had been overcome by the co-operation of the committee members, who appreciated the support of the Finance Committee. The work of Miss Perkins and her staff had been splendid.
At the book survey taken on March 31st it was found that the total stock of the lending department was some 9,000 books, of which 3,800 were out on loan. It would be seen that they had not a very wide choice to give to their readers, and it was obvious that they had in the near future to increase their book stock very considerably if they were to give an efficient service.
In the juvenile department the stock was some 1,200 fiction and 450 non-fiction. Of this stock of 1,650 about 800 were actually in circulation on March 31st.
Better Service
It was evident that by transferring the whole of the juvenile stock into the new department they would be able to give a more efficient service to readers of all ages.
Mr. Bailey added that the children were looking forward keenly to using the room for the first time on Friday evening. The hours of opening now arranged were only experimental.
Those attending the ceremony were Couns. Weale, Richardson, Bailey, H. Waring, J. E. Dilks, W. E. Capon, J. Allen, A. Allebone, J.P., C.C., Mrs. O. A. H. Muxlow, W. J. Sawford, F. Green, J.P., J. George and T. J. Swindall, Miss W. M. Clipson, Miss C. Bennett, Mr. Walter Tarry, Mr. E. Freeman (co-opted members of the Library Committee), Mr. T. L. Watts, LLB (Clerk to the Council), Mr. B. W. Williams (Chief Financial Officer), Miss Marion Perkins (Librarian), Miss Childs and Miss Tompkins (staff).
