DEATH OF CITY LIBRARIAN
MR W. B. McEWAN'S COMMUNITY WORK
Though Mr William Barker McEwan was removed by death this morning, his name is indelibly written in the history of the Dunedin Free Library, an institution of which he was librarian for twenty-five years. When he was in the Blue Mountains at Easter Mr McEwan was taken seriously ill with an internal complaint of which he had experienced no previous symptoms. He was taken to the Tuapeka Hospital, and was later removed to the Dunedin Hospital. He had been an inmate there since Easter Sunday. This morning his condition was critical, and his relatives and best friends were summoned shortly before his death occurred.
Born in Edinburgh sixty-three years ago. Mr McEwan was a son of William McEwan, the sculptor. He was educated at the Heriot School, Edinburgh, and in 1884 was apprenticed to the West End Reading Club. He became assistant and then chief librarian, during which period he married Elizabeth, a daughter of Robert McArthur, of Dalkeith. In 1903 he was appointed chief librarian of the Stirling (Scotland) Library, but he later came to New Zealand. He was at Westport when he was appointed first librarian of the Free Library in Dunedin, and at the time of his death lie had completed all but four days of twenty-five years of service.
When Mr McEwan first took up duties on May 6, 1908, the library building in Moray place was in the course of construction. When the newspaper and magazine rooms were opened on December 2 of the same year Mr McEwan was praised for the care he had shown in the fitting and laying out of the library, which was built out of a grant of £10,000 from the Andrew Carnegie Corporation. The opening of the rooms commenced a march of progress under Mr McEwan’s generalship. The reference library was opened on November 22, 1909; the juvenile reading room on March 12, 1910; juvenile lending library on June 20, 1910; the adult lending library on July 3, 1911; and the juvenile library (as a separate branch) on September 16, 1912.
From a small reading library the Dunedin Free Library has developed into a huge municipal undertaking, the yearly returns having increased rapidly until now the library is cramped for accommodation. While Mr McEwan’s indefatigable efforts in what was to him a labour of love inspired each succeeding council and fired generous citizens to contribute valuable gifts of literature to the library, he was never able to persuade the public to vote for a loan to enable the buildings to be extended. His career would have been fittingly capped if the public had shown their appreciation of the excellence of the service by agreeing to the extensions, which are even more pressing to-day.
Splendid work was done by Mr McEwan in developing the reference library, which he maintained by keeping stocks up to date. The library has grown in popularity with students and serious-minded readers. A feature of the Free Library has been the McNab section, with its valuable collection of New Zealand books, Mr McEwan was particularly enthusiastic in this department, which has been admired by many visitors.
The introduction of school libraries was made by Mr McEwan, and they are now firmly established, thanks to his efforts. The juveniles had a friend indeed in the librarian, who never failed to emphasise the value of the scheme and its importance on the grounds of attainment by the children in grammar and composition, and also on the grounds of moral influence.
A Scots patriot, Mr McEwan was an intense lover of the national poets and authors, and his addresses on Burns and Scott were given in centres beyond Otago, while his papers on the poet and bard have been widely read. He carried his patriotism to a practical point, and he was a prominent member of the Burns Club, for five years its president. He was an elocutionist of ability, and his authoritative lectures held attention.
His position in the community made him many friends. When patrons of the library solicited his assistance and guidance, they were immediately won by his extremely deep knowledge of books, a knowledge which he disseminated without any suggestion of pedantry, his geniality and his kindliness. He was a librarian of recognised merit and organising ability, and his contributions at the Libraries Conferences were received with unfailing respect and acknowledgment.
The present state of all sections of the Free Library is a monument to Mr McEwan. At his passing, the staff and the public patrons will feel that they have lost a sincere friend and adviser and the City Council has lost a servant who did not spare himself in his twentyfive years of thorough service.
Mr McEwan was so deeply engrossed in books and the library that he had little time for other activities. However, he was a prominent Mason and he followed cricket and football closely.
He is survived by Mrs McEwan and four sons and two daughters. His home was at The Cove, Macandrew Bay. His children are: — Messrs John, James, Alexander, and William, and Misses Dorothy and Maizie. The flag at the Town Hall was flown at half-mast when the death was announced. -Evening Star, 2/5/1933.
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