University Library

With little doubt it can be said that Victoria College contains the best university library in New Zealand. We alone are favoured by the Carnegie Bequest—the Atkinson Bequest has also helped considerably; but in comparison with European and American standards our 60,000 volumes must show up in a poor light. If a University is the fountain of knowledge, then the library must be its reservoir. A student in England in his quest for information might have some 250,000 books at his disposal—from the stack room a book may be produced almost at will. Many VUC students search in vain for those which they require.

Typical is the French book selection. For those students of classical French literature the collection is excellent; but few additions have been made over the past thirty years. Similarly the English class library has had few accessions made since the day of the foundation professor. Neither do conditions improve with time. The newly formed Geography Department recently handed in suggestions for books which will cost some hundreds of pounds. By the time these additions are finally made the problem of space will be acute. It will be remembered last year how crowded the library became before the final exams. Already in 1946 we have a packed library in the first term. Unless temporary relief is afforded October may well see seating accommodation available for only a small fraction of those seeking it.

The present librarian, realising the limitations, has in view plans for a separate library building, but it will be unlikely that any present students will see its erection. Meanwhile what steps should be taken?

The provision of substantial temporary accommodation is absolutely necessary. Professors should further their interest in current publications and see that their classes are provided with all manner of literature—this applies even more so to graduate classes. Finally—the education grant in New Zealand has never yet been adequate—it is of little surprise that after five years of war we should find the effects of prolonged starvation rapidly provoking a crisis.

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