THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1945, 31 December 1913, Page 8

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

RECORD LENDING YEAR.

AMERICAN FICTON POPULAR.

American fiction is ousting British, on every hand, according to the hi.tonnat ion gained by a reporter at the Public Library yesterday. The favourite fiction author during the year has been Rex Beach. Some forty of his Aicoks are kept in the library, and there is seldom mora than half a dozen on the shelves devoted to him. Grno Stratlon Porter's Freckles" and "Tlio Girl of tho Limberlost" find many admirers, for it is tho lug-liter class of American fiction that appeals. llobt. W. Oliamh ers's hooks have a wido circle of readers, and tho same can bo said of the majority of tho more recent writers of this class of hook. Hail Caiiio seems to be the favourite English author, and especially with "The Woman Thou Gavest Me" lias ho been popular. Joseph Hocking is still read, but his day is going. There has been a larger demand for novels than for any other class of literature at tho Wellington Public Library during the past year'. Then follow magazines, poetry, drama, and miscellaneous lxioks of essays, sketches, etc., and travel books.

The average number of subscribers to the library during the year was between 1500 and ISOO, and tho record number of books taken out in one month was 8298, in May last. Every Saturday tho number jumps to well over five hundred, and it then keeps two assistants hardi at work supplying reading for Wellington's business men and others who only havo the leisure of Sunday. The seasons affect the amount of reading that is done, and it naturally follows that the long wet winter nights are more devoted to reading than tho summer nights, when everybody gives as much , time as possible to tho open air. So subscriptions falling due about November are allowed to lapso in great numbers .till the siynmer months are gone, when'they are again taken up. Subscribers fall out to tho average number of 25 a month, and new subscribers just about number tlio same, keeping tho subscription list balanced. While reference books in the upper floor of tho freo library are read a good deal, educational works, of which a large number is not stocked, are very little in demand.

Two thousand seven hundred and forty new books were added to the lending department of the Central Library during the year, while 97,000 books were issued for homo reading. This constituted a record, and a record was also established in tlio number of subscribers' tickets, 1803, which wero issued.

Seven hundred and sixty-one volumes were added to tlio reference department. The uso of two refeience rooms is ireo to visitors, who numbered during tho year 103,267—n0t a record, tut showing a Rood average attendance during tho whole y«ar. Durinr. the earlier part of the strike, while there were exciting happenings in tho streets,, the attendance was below tho average, but later on the library claimed its own with a few extras, for tho attendances during November «nd December were records for those months. All classes of literature, excepting current fiction, aro provided ill these rooms, and each class claims its . readers. Naturally a good deal of attention is given to th-e newer books, but there are no means of keeping a record of the calls. While tho attendance may bo claimed as gewd, it is rjuite certain that a large number of citizens aro not awaro of, or do not .appreciate, tho storo of knowledge to bo found here. A very largo number of English and American literary reviews and technical journals are filed, and niay be consulted by thoso interested, while the assistants aro always Teady and willing to prove that they- aro assistants to the inquirer for knowledge. The question of overcrowding has given tho staff some trouble during tlip year, but it is honed that tliero will bo relief soon, as the City Council has authorised tho City Engineer (Mr. W. H. Morton) to proceed with extra storage accommodation. during the early part of tho coming year.