A Library at War Again

During the War library services not only continued, but modestly expanded.

Freshwater Library was opened by Sir Godfrey Baring on Thursday 16th November, 1939, and is still today the last totally purpose-constructed library in use on the Island. Owing to war economies the County Council vetoed a purpose-built branch in Cowes, and after rejecting the idea of using Northwood House began to look for another suitable building for conversion. The Methodist Chapel in Arctic Road was available and the trustees were willing to sell for £1,500. The County Architect advised that the chapel could be converted into a library for approximately £2,000 and the scheme was given the blessing of both Cowes Urban District Council and the County Council. Again economies had to be made and eventually the chapel was bought for £1,300 and the conversion costs pruned to £220.

The cost of converting the Ventnor Literary Institute and Museum into a library was agreed at £1,917. One curious proviso was that the shelves in the lending department should be no higher than 4 feet; but this was evidently ignored when the converted building was equipped in time for the opening in September, 1940. Ventnor Library - as Cowes in January, 1941 - was opened without formal ceremonies in deference to Civil Defence regulations. Village centres were opened at Alverstone (1940) and Apse Heath (1942), the latter being staffed by the Womens Institute and carrying a stock of 200 books.

Frederick Green, the Chief Assistant, was appointed as County Librarian in April, 1941, following Arthur Kemp's retirement. Unluckily, and despite committee representations, the new post-holder's imminent call-up could be delayed no further, and he left for the army almost immediately, not to take over the reins again until 1946.

Muriel Mullins undertook the surrogate role for the duration, and Kemp was retained in an honorary position as Reader and Consultative Librarian, his £200 honorarium being paid out of the Deed of Endowment.

Throughout the war, the spirit of patriotism was remarkable. At least 3 of the permanent staff of 9 were in H.M. Forces at any one time. On discovery in June, 1942 that an applicant for a library assistant's post was a conscientious objector, the post was not offered "in these circumstances." The offer of a gratis copy of "Pacifist Journal" for the reading room was similarly turned down. Some of the energy of the staff was channelled into book recovery and salvage drives; the front garden of West Wight Library was planted with potatoes (cabbages succumbed to caterpillar pest); and during 1942 part of Cowes Library was temporarily used as a feeding centre. Ventnor Library was alone in sustaining bomb damage - March, 1941, August, 1942, and February, 1943. After the last bombing, books had to be taken for safety to store in the Winter Gardens, but no-one was reported hurt in any of the enemy actions. Newport readers, hungry for this and other war news could use the Newport reading room during the summer from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. - until December, 1943 at least, after which it was closed an hour earlier at 8 p.m. The black-out affected all branches, including Ryde, which closed even earlier, at 7 p.m.

Despite Ventnor's vulnerability, the Island generally was deemed bibliographically secure, the Seely Library being made in 1943 a depository for blitzed libraries on the mainland, and receiving 5,000 books. With annual book issues of over 500,000 throughout the period 1942 to 1944 it must have been tempting to the custodians to supplement the Island's stock with this foreign cache; particularly as the Island rate in the year ending March, 1943 was only 2¼d n the pound, the price of book binding had risen by 4d. to 2/6d. per volume, and at one time towards the end of 1940, 159 readers had to go on the waiting list for "Gone with the Wind."

The £5.17s. made at West Wight in May, 1941 by selling garden produce was significant enough to report to the Education Committee, no doubt to emphasise that this income helped to offset the cost of a garden shed, bought for £12 the previous year. Book reservations were charged at the rate of ld. from September, 1941; visitors' deposits of 10s. per book were started in June, 1943 (H.M. Forces exempt); the value of a cleaner at Bembridge was 1/3d. for an hour's work on Saturdays. The (now defunct) Bradshaw railway timetable was such a vital library asset, that when it was stolen yet again from the West Wight Library in December, 1941, the Committee sternly ordered its replacement to be chained down to the table.

Modest expansion was accompanied by modest planning for the post-war period. As early as 1940 the Education Committee agreed to submit a formal application to the Carnegie Trustees for assistance in development of the service. In December, 1943 recommendations were made to obtain a new site for the Newport Seely Library, to open further village centres, to acquire a van, and to improve staffing.

The Ryde Lind Street branch was thought even in 1944 to be insufficient for its purpose, and the conversion of the School of Art in George Street - where the Ryde Library had originally started - was already a gleam in the planners' eyes. It was not to be realised until 20 years later.