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MORRISTON NEXT?
The residents of Mumbles, who had been promised a library even before the extension of the borough, could be proud of their branch library.

It was the third provided by the Swansea Public Libraries Committee, and they were glad to see the committee were extending their sphere of influence in this way.

He would like to suggest that Morriston should have the next new branch library. Facilities of that kind in these days were necessities, not luxuries, in view of the fact that as the years went by there was increased leisure among the people.

The introduction of scientific invention in industry which resulted in so much greater output and production had meant and would in the future mean greater leisure for the people, and such facilities as the Public Library afforded, were of the proper kind to fill in those leisure hours.

PLEA FOR CLASSICS.

Regarding the fiction on their library shelves, he would throw out one suggestion, and it was that there should be a complete set of the works of Sir Walter Scott. Charles Dickens and others of that standard, as in his opinion those classics were infinitely preferable to the fiction of much lesser value published in these days. Councillor D. Richards, chairman of the Libraries Committee, said he hoped the residents of that district would use the library for study as well as for recreation.

For some years the people of Mumbles had been agitating for a library. Now they had one, and he hoped they would make the fullest possible use of it. The shelves were stocked with books to satisfy all tastes, and he would draw the attention of parents to the children's department, which contained not only books of adventure, but also books calculated to broaden their outlook and assist them in their school work.

CHEAPEST MUNICIPAL SERVICE.

Councillor Percy Morris said he felt confident the residents of Mumbles would not fail to appreciate the facilities with which the Libraries Committee had now provided them. The Public Library was the cheapest and one of the most efficient of their municipal services.

It would interest them all to know that more than half a million books were last year issued from the central and branch libraries in the borough, in addition to 60,000 distributed among the schools.

Endorsing the appeal made by the chairman to the residents of Mumbles to make full use of the library, the speaker expressed the hope that it would become recognised, not only as a splendid building, but an important seat of learning.

SMALL EXPENDITURE.

Mrs. R. Cross, a member of the Libraries Committee, said that com- pared with other towns the money spent on the libraries in Swansea was very small.

The residents of Mumbles were largely indebted to Mr. C. E. Tucker, who, while a member of the Libraries Committee, had worked very hard to secure the branch library for Mumbles. Mr. Walter Young and Mr. D. Rhys Phillips, joint borough librarians, also spoke.

Councillors W. J. Ackland and Hy. Libby, as representatives of the Oyster. mouth Ward, expressed the satisfaction it afforded them to realise that a long- felt want in the locality had at last been supplied. A bouquet was presented to the Mayoress by Miss Beth Rees.

A HISTORIC SPOT.

The site upon which the Mumbles Branch Library now stands is historic ground. It is now nearly a hundred years ago since what was known as the British School was erected on the spot.

Some of the older residents can recall the time when a Mr. Orrin was the local Dominie; also a Mr. Bennett, who ruled with a "rod of iron."

The last master of the school is still living, in the person of Mr. William Linnard, of Brynmill, who is hale and hearty at the age of 95.

When the British School became extinct, the premises were taken over by the now defunct Oystermouth Urban District Council.

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