Ali Sharr on the importance of new book stock

"On my trip around the other States, I noticed that in many cases when additional books were added to an existing library as a result of State subsidy, the appearance of the library was little changed because, naturally, the new books were promptly borrowed and the tired, old ones stayed on the shelves. That was the main reason for our policy that, when an existing library became associated with us, all its existing books were vested in the Board, removed and replaced by new stock, as if there had been no previous library. I am sure that that was a major factor in the rapid increase of use of such libraries." (p.78)

Sharr, F. A. Recollections: Forty Years of Public Library Service. Adelaide: Auslib Press, 1992.

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