From Munn-Pitt to Library Act

Abstract

This three-part series traces efforts to establish a system of free public libraries in New South Wales from the time of publication of the Munn-Pitt Report in 1935 to the passing of the New South Wales Library Act in 1939. The series delves beyond the published accounts of events and describes the actions and interactions of the interested parties—the senior librarians at the Public Library of New South Wales, the Free Library Movement, the Library Group, the Libraries Advisory Committee, New South Wales politicians, the media, local government bodies, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the Australian Council for Educational Research. There are also insights into the public and private views of key individuals, including Ralph Munn, W.H. Ifould, D.H. Drummond, and G.C. Remington.

The second part describes the efforts of the Libraries Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of W.H. Ifould to develop a politically acceptable and workable free public library scheme for New South Wales. The paper outlines how contentious issues, such as compulsion of local government authorities, ministerial control and funding formulae, were handled by the Committee and reveals the influence of D.H. Drummond, Minister for Education, on the final report.