Eleanor Roberts Library
FREE YOUTH LIBRARY
MEMORIAL TO THE LATE MISS ROBERTS.
Great Southern Herald
13 July 1945 – P2
At a large and representative meeting held on July 9th at “White House,” the home of Mr and Mrs A. Thomson, and convened by Mrs K. Thomson and Miss J. Hansen, it was unanimously decided to form a Free Youth Library for the children of the Katanning district. On the motion of Miss Hansen, Mr Thomson was requested to take the chair for the evening.
After a short explanation by Mrs Thomson of how the idea and need of a children’s library came to her and was put into effect, Miss Hansen gave the aims and ideals and read several explanatory articles and letters from similar institutions and notable people. After a full discussion, it was unanimously decided to form a Free Youth Library.
Following the election of officers listed below, it was suggested that no more fitting memorial could exist to the late Miss Roberts who laboured so long and so well for our children, than a Youth Library bearing her name. This was carried with the whole hearted approval of all present. Thus the Library was named the Eleanor Roberts Youth Library.
The need for such an institution must be obvious to every wise parent and citizen. Education should not, and must not, end at school. That is but a beginning. A free library will offer to the youth of the district a means of improving their general education and a reliable source of information. We must not wait for the Government. “The time is now.”
The Committee wishes to make it clear that the Library will be absolutely free to children and adolescents. It will not be for the use of adults, but honorary membership of this Association is available to interested people at 1/- per annum.
The Mechanics Institute is to be commended for placing at the Committee’s disposal a room in its building for use as a library and reading room, at a total cost of 2/6 per week including light, cleaning, etc. It is proposed to start the Library on a voluntary roster system, at no cost to the public. Strict supervision and guidance of children is guaranteed.
Several handsome donations are already in hand. Will you donate either cash or good books to our new project? The cause, and the name it honours, augur well for this town to be, we believe, the first in WA to establish such a Library. Help to keep Katanning in the forefront by giving your whole hearted support to a scheme which, as a Memorial to Miss Roberts, and a Library of reference, history and fiction, cannot do other than good for our young people. Your donations may be tendered to any of the following: Mrs K. Thomson, Rev. Boon, Mr Venning, Miss Hansen and Miss White All donations will be suitably acknowledged.
OFFICERS
President, Mrs Keith Thomson; Vice-President, Rev Boon; Secretary, Mr H. B. Venning; Assistant-Secretary, Miss J. Hansen; Treasurer, Miss M. White; Committee: Mesdames Coventry, Quartermaine, Templeman, Hansen, Misses Mathews, Fremantle Perkins, Mr Leslie and Sgt Whits.
After supper the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to Mrs K. Thomson and Miss Hansen for their initiative and for Mr and Mrs Alex Thomson for their hospitality.
THE ELEANOR ROBERTS YOUTH LIBRARY.
Miss K. Thomson and Miss J. Hansen, honorary organisers of the Eleanor Roberts Youth Library, wish to thank all those people who gave such enthusiastic and generous support to the movement, thus enabling it to be launched so successfully.
The following moneys in promises and cash have been received already
Mr J. F. Wanke £5
Mr Thomson £10
Mrs Freemantle £5
Mr Feistead £2/2/
Mr Bolto £1
Sgt. White 10/6
And several smaller donations.
ELEANOR ROBERTS YOUTH LIBRARY
Official Opening and Dedication.
Great Southern Herald
30 November 1945 – P2
Inside the Eleanor Roberts Library
The official opening of the Eleanor Roberts Youth Library and its dedication to the memory of the late Miss Eleanor Roberts took place at the Town Hall on Friday, November 16, 1945. The opening ceremony and dedication was performed by the Director of Education, Mr Murray Little, in the presence of a very large assembly of citizens and children.
The ceremony commenced with a group of songs by the State School choir, conducted by Mrs Allan, the chairman, Mr F. M. Bowden, chairman of the Katanning Road Board, then reading telegrams of congratulations and good wishes from Mrs Joyner, president of the Little Citizen’s League and organiser of the only other free Youth Library in Western Australia, and from Sgt J. Kemp, Torokina, Bougainville, a former teacher of the Katanning State School. He also read apologies for non-attendance from Hon. A. Thomson, MLC, and Mr A. F. Watts, MLA, member for Katanning and Leader of the State Opposition.
In introducing the Director of Education, Mr Murray Little, and Mrs Little, Mr Bowden said they were not strangers to Katanning. Mr Little had come from Albany 25 years ago to be headmaster at the Katanning school. Mr Little had been instrumental in inaugurating the original Parents and Citizen’s Association at Katanning. He also had effected improvements to the educational standard of the school to the extent that children attending the school were enabled to sit for their Junior and Leaving examinations instead of having to go to other schools.
It was very appropriate to name the library after Miss Roberts as at least 75 per cent of the children of Katanning had been taught by her.
The Director said he was honored at being invited to perform the opening ceremony. It was indeed a dual function – the opening of the Youth Library and its dedication to the memory of a loved teacher. Miss Eleanor Roberts had performed a wonderful work in the district for more than 25 years.
The little child attending school had been “mothered” by Miss Roberts, and had been introduced by her to the first steps towards knowledge. It was her life work. The library was the first free juvenile library outside Perth.
Katanning was to be congratulated in taking such a step, for there was never a time when libraries were more needed in the world than at present. The two great enemies of reading were the screen and the radio, for they tended to make people mentally lazy. The children of Katanning had been given a beautiful library and they must make use of it. A lover of books never need be lonely. He had very great pleasure in declaring the Eleanor Roberts Youth Library open.
The President of the library, and its originator, Mrs Keith Thomson, in moving a vote of thanks to the Director, referred to the magnificent help she had received and which had brought success to her project. She thanked the public of Katanning for its very generous support, and the Mechanics Institute for having made available a room suitable for the library. She also thanked Mrs A. M. Stronach for the gift of a beautiful librarian’s desk, as a memorial to her son, Bruce, who was killed at El Alamein. Bruce was a fine boy and had commenced his education in Miss Roberts’ class, so it was fitting for his memorial to be given a place of honor in the Eleanor Roberts Youth Library.
Mrs Thomson said the committee was indebted to Miss A. Oborne for the gift of a large framed photograph of Miss Roberts, the two having been life-long friends. In conclusion, Mrs Thomson thanked her committee for their help and co-operation which in four short months had resulted in the firm establishment of the library.
Rev Mr Boon, vice-president, in supporting Mrs Thomson, said it had been a great pleasure to be associated with the formation of the library. It was very fitting that its opening ceremony had fallen in the week known as Book Week throughout the world. Among the books received was one written by Mr W. Sampson, a past scholar of the late Miss Roberts. He had great pleasure in seconding the vote of thanks to the Director of Education and in supporting the thanks of the president to all who had helped in any way to make the Youth Library a very fine reality.
The president of the Parents and Citizen’s Association, Mr C. E. Courtis, moved a vote of thanks to the president and committee of the Eleanor Roberts Youth Library on behalf of all the children of Katanning and their parents. The best way the children could show appreciation of what had been done for them was to make full use of the facilities offered, and parents by seeing that the books were used and not abused. On behalf of his association he asked Mrs Thomson to convey to the members of her committee thanks and gratitude for a marvellous job.
The children of the State School and the Sacred Heart Convent at this stage marched from the hall to stand at attention in front of the library whilst Mr Little proceeded to unlock the door of the library and declare it open for use; the children then giving three cheers for Mr Little and the library. The function concluded with the official party being entertained at afternoon tea in the Road Board Offices.
To give some idea of the immediate popularity of the library, it is officially stated that during the first eight days it was in being no less than 1058 books had been lent to its registered members. More books and money for books are needed.