Ryde
More books were purchased and demands from Ryde were to make them urgently needed. Ryde was in 1933, as now, the largest town on the Isle of Wight. A village library existed at the Upper Grade School in Ryde but the service had never been advertised and was totally inadequate for a town of this size. On the 25th January, 1933 a branch library was opened at the School of Art, Ryde for 1½ hours a week with Mr. D. Barker as Honorary Librarian. It was a very humble effort and the local press decried this poor service, pointing out that:
"The private libraries have certainly at present no reason for fearing the newcomer, for all that is available is a non-descript collection of books ..."
The same paper hinted that if the Library Act were adopted in Ryde an adequate service could be given. As the Borough of Ryde began to make its presence felt within the County Library it seemed to act as a stimulant to the service generally. In the year ending 31st March, 1931 Newport issued 123,591 books. A year later the figure was 148,591. A year later again the increase was only up to 154,593, but by 31st March, 1934 the number of books issued was 179,098: a very large increase in one year. These increases were rewarded: Donald Penning's salary was increased to £75 per year, and in the March of 1933 Arthur Kemp was allowed to purchase 500 books for £20.1s. Additional shelving was ordered for the chess room and corridors within Newport Library to cope with the extra books.
During 1934 the Isle of Wight had more sun than any other part of the United Kingdom. The introduction of a daily air service attracted more holiday makers than ever before, establishing the Island as a major tourist attraction. The hundreds of thousands of holiday makers who came to the Island were a mixed blessing upon the still limited library service. The majority of tourists wanted recreational fiction. This was available, but any specialised library services were as yet beyond the scope of the library.
But attempts were still being made to expand the service with the introduction in January of 1934 of a Prison Library Service to Parkhurst Prison.
Throughout the middle nineteen thirties the prevalant force in the County Library was Ryde. It was obvious that a borough the size of Ryde would not settle for a library open only 1~ hours a week. In September, 1933, Ryde Borough Council asked for more books, but they were told that they would have their share and no more. In January of the following year Ryde Borough Council members asked for increased library facilities, as the book boxes were not satisfactory. The Mayor offered a room within the Council Offices that could be used as a library shelved at the Borough's expense. The Sub-Committee pointed out to Ryde Borough Council that if they wanted to establish their own library authority the County Council would not object. This was not the first time the County Council had offered a town on the Island complete library freedom provided it was at their expense: in 1925 Ventnor had been told that if they wished to establish their own library authority the County Council would not object.
However Ryde Borough Council wanted an improved library service and without the expense of adopting the Public Libraries Act. The room they offered within the Council Office was inadequate, so in May of 1934 a larger room in 5 Lind Street, Ryde was put at the disposal of the County Education Committee by the Borough Council. This was the reading room in the old branch of the Ryde Y.M.C.A. building. The offer was accepted and work began to convert the room into a branch library. During the rest of 1934 Donald Penning continued studying for the Library Association professional examinations and in the September of the same year Arthur Kemp was allowed to attend the Library Association Conference. Despite an additional member of staff the library service still closed during August for annual stocktaking and staff holidays. Another major development during 1934 was the amalgamation of the Sandown and Shanklin Urban District Councils. Each town had established its own library already - Sandown in 1905 and Shanklin in 1924; and the two were now placed under the new authority." Their development until 1974 continued to be independent of the County Service.
In January, 1935 the new Ryde Library was opened. Opening hours were Tuesday and Friday evenings and staffed by volunteers, three women and two men. The service got off to a good start.
However by July of 1935 the elected representatives of Ryde had requested a meeting with the County Library officials and members; the Ryde members pointed out that the service had improved wonderfully but they would like more books for students and reference works. Most important of all they wanted increased opening hours and a full time librarian. They realised the County would not improve the service without some sort of incentive, so they offered the County the equivalent of a farthing rate or approximately £125 to pay the salary of a full time librarian. This decision was to be carefully considered by the County Council.
In July of 1935 Donald Penning, the first library assistant moved to Kent County Library and eventually retired as Borough Librarian of Port Talbot.
He was replaced by Edward Denham from 1st August, 1935 with a salary of 15s. per week. While Edward Denham was learning about county libraries a problem common in many village libraries throughout the country was drawn to the attention of the Sub-Committee. The County Library sign at Bembridge Village Library was on display outside the local school where the library was housed, even during the school holidays when of course the library was closed. The local Vicar complained because he was pestered with people wanting to know when the library would be open and where they could obtain books. To resolve the problem it was agreed the sign be removed during school holidays. Despite such minor problems the service continued to grow with 31,573 books being issued during the 57 days ending 12th October, 1935 Ryde was never out of library events during the mid-thirties. At a meeting of the Sub-Committee in February, 1936 it was resolved that a second library assistant be appointed at 15s. per week with additional travelling expenses for the two library assistants to travel between Newport and any library in which they might be expected to work. It was also recommended that open access be introduced and that a catalogue of books, particularly reference books, be introduced at Ryde. At the March, 1936 meeting of the same committee a request for the inclusion of children's periodicals within the Reading Room was turned down. Arthur Kemp pointed out that enough children used the reading room at present and this caused a disturbance.
In May of 1936 Ryde Library's opening hours were extended to a minimum of 1½ hours a day under a new full time assistant, Mr. B. G. Gallaway. He took up his duties on lst April, 1936 on a salary of £36 per year.
During October, 1937 the Sub-Committee received a request from residents in Freshwater for a separate room to provide a library. The service through a village library within a local school was not adequate for a growing community that included Alfred Tennyson, the poet's grandson. The Committee promised to consider the subject. During the first meeting of the Sub-Committee held in 1937 the subject of "unsavoury" books was raised. The particular books in question were "Ulysses" by James Joyce (purchased at £3.3s.), Mark Benney's "Low Company", and Gabriel Chevallier's "Clochemerle." Their value was discussed at some length and eventually it was agreed that they should be placed on the restricted list for readers who requested them. But that was not the end of the debate. At a later special meeting the purchase of Ulysses was again discussed. The Director of Education was criticised for allowing purchase of the book and the meeting seemed divided between those who wanted to burn it and those who wanted it freely available. Eventually a compromise was reached. The book was to be placed in one of the Council's safes and it was to be issued for not more than one month subject to the approval of the Sub-Committee.
As this censorship was discussed the service was still increasing. A third library assistant, Mr. Alec. Samuel, aged 16, of Cowes, took up his library duties from 1st April, 1937. Conditions for the other library assistants were improving: Mr. Denham received financial help from the Committee to attend a French language course at Tours. With four members of staff to pay the Sub-Committee felt that a large increase in the bookfund was not possible, and the allocation for the year ending March, 1938 was fixed at £850. The real pressure for improvements still came from Ryde Borough Council, which wanted an improved library service at almost any price. At a meeting held between the County and Borough representatives it was agreed that two rooms offered by the Council at an annual rental of £50 to expand the existing library be accepted. From Monday, 6th September, 1937 three additional opening periods were introduced, giving total opening hours of 12½ a week.
An extra member of staff, Miss Gwyneth Franklin, B.A. was allowed to work as an unpaid assistant in Newport to gain the practicalexperience necessary for membership of the Library Association.
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