My research into SA Institutes continues and occasionally surprises me. Recently I came across reports of the North Adelaide Institute giving prizes of books in the 1950s to students at the North Adelaide Primary School. I could see that giving library subscription scholarships to students (as many institutes did) could encourage children to visit and borrow from their local libraries. A book prize receiver didn’t even need to find out where the local institute library was!
What did the institute gain by giving a book?
In February this year husband Ken and I were shifting furniture (and books) ready for some recarpeting. A chance check of one of the books – about famous composers – revealed that in 1955 I had received such a prize. I have no recollection of receiving this prize! It wasn’t until 2017 that I found out where the North Adelaide Institute and Library was – and is still. You can hear all about The First North Adelaide Institute in Ward Street and visit the Institute that gave me my prize as part of SA’s History Month, on May 16th. See page 17 in the History Festival program.