December 1958 School Magazine

December, 1958

·BrisbanE• Girls' Grammar School Magazine

BrisbanE· Girls' Grammar School ·Magazine

Deoember, 19511:

' Meanwhile, the accommodation for all these books was also being enlarged. In 1933 a fine bookcase (the one now in the hall near the staffroom, containing staff reference books) was bequeathed to the School by the late Lieutenant-Colonel Plant in memory of his daughter, Mrs . Findlay. At that time the bookcase, which housed the Beanland Bequest books, was kept in the Front Hall. In 1929 began the practice ot placing moneys yearly in a Fixed Deposit towards the furnish- ing of a Reading Room, a wise forethought from which we are now benefiting. The magazine of December, 1936, states: "We are all looking forward to the time when the Reading Room, which the Old Girls are planning for the School shall become- a reality." In 1940 the Old Girls presented the School with a fine- maple bookcase, and later with a second bookcase a n d o:ettle to match. These were placed in the corridor off the Front Hall , and used for reference books available to Sixth and Fifth Form. New and attractive shelves for the magazines were purchased in. 1953. New bookcases for Fiction books Wr=Jre purchased in 1956. The annual repamng of books by Juniors after examine-· tions is first mentioned in December, 1945. In 1954 began that useful institution, the book binding group, instructed by Mr. Dobbie, of the Public Library, which, in 1957 alone, bound 46 magazines and 72 books. This was begun at the suggestion of Miss Thomas, from whose painstaking care and freely-given time, the Fiction Library and the collection of magazines have- especially benefited since she became Vice-President of the- Beanland Memorial Library Committee in 1951, and in 1955, when Fiction and Reference Sections were separated, Vice- President in charge of the fiction J.ibrary For the organization of the Committee was altering by this decade; members of the Third Forms were represented on the Committee for the first time in 1954 and, in 1955, changes in the constitution were made. This included as Vice-PresidE3nts not only the members of Staff in charge of the Fiction Library, the Reference Library and the Magazine (which is paid for by library fees), but also the Senior English Mistress, thus recognising the valuable way in which, for many years, the Library and its users had been enriched by Miss Macmillan's influence. Already in December, 1950, the Library notes record that lack of space was hampering activities; so it was with great pleasure that we watched on 14th April, 1956, the . foundation 58

stone of the Library Building laid by His Excellency Sir John lavarack a culmination of the enthusiastic effort of M1ss Crooks, the Old Girls' Association and the Parents' and Friends' Association. On June 7, 1958, the building was officially opened by the Chancellor of the University of Queensland, Mr. A. E. Axon. lt is a fitting abode for the approximately 2000 Reference_ books and 1500 Fiction built up over the years, and swelled this year by generous gifts froffi many friends of the School. And so the present girls are reaping the benefit of the vision and enthusiasm, the patience and untiring work of the countless people, named and unnamed, who ~ave helped to enlarge and keep in order our val~able collection of books, to -organize the efficient administration of the Library and to administer soundly its finances . "Other men laboured and ye are entered into their labours." -B.P. It was thought the Old Girls and the School would like to learn what has happened in the Library since 7th June . The following account is taken from the report read to the Annual Meeting of the Beanland Memorial Library Committee on Thurs- day, 6th November, 1958, by the Librarian, Mrs. Roe, whose ·enthusia2m and interest in the Library has been felt by us all. " I began work here on May 26th and work IN the Library on May 30th. The Library was opened as you know on Satur- day, June 7th, so this report only covers events since then. I can make no mention of the tremendous amount of work that went into this Library prior to the move. I can only tell you of what has been done towards organising and sorting this collec- tion since I began work with it. The Fiction Library : Between 1.25 p .m. and 2 p.m. each week day this very attractive room is a lively, busy place. For the rest of the day it remains cool and quiet with slight distur- bances between 8.30 and 9 a.m. and 3.15 and 4 p.m. During the last term the room has been used during the day for the showing of films, illustrated lectures, and the p laying of recordings. 59 LffiRARIAN'S REPORT.