N.Z. LIBRARIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1938, Page 15

N.Z. LIBRARIES

WELLINGTON BRANCH

The annual'meeting of the Wellington branch of the Npw Zealand Library Association was held' last "night, when matters of 'policy and'a programme 'of activity were discussed. The annual report, which was adopted, stressed the important work accomplished during the year. This included the initiation and financing, of a survey of secondary school libraries, . > ;„ .

"The branch's development has been somewhat hampered during the year by certain disabilities,"- remarks the report. "Among these are first, an entire lack of clerical assistance, forcing the branch to depend upon, the good (will of outside institutions and individuals for the execution of an increasing amount of this typo of work. Further, while \t enjoys the hospitality of the turnbull Library for its monthly meetings, the branch has no permanent quarters to act as a centre for its activities. The third and chief disability is the lack of active membership, partly due to the fact that senior members of the profession, are necessarily occupied with the work of the major association and its sub-committees, while many of the junior members are University,, students and'have little or no opportunity of taking part in branch meetings and discussions. • JTinally, during the past year, the committee has lacked direct representation on the council of the association arid has "been further handicapped by the delay in receiving the reports f^rom the various standing committees, These latter disabilities,. it is hoped, will be removed as the result of remits forwarded by the branch for consideration at the association's annual conference next month.

"Viewed thus in retrospect, the year can be described as moderately successful. It cannot be said that the branch yet occupies the place in the association envisaged by the secretary of that body. On the other hand, the^c has undoubtedly been progress in that direction which may eventually lead to-the forming, in the fullest sense, of one of the 'active working bodies of the* association,' This, however, is unlikely to. happen until -the above mentioned ob-1 ■ staclcs are removed." The following officers were elected:— Hon. president, Mr. T. D. H. Hall;, president, Mr.'C. R. H. Taylor; .vicepre&idents, Messrs. J. Norrie, W. J. Gaudin, J.* Heenan, C.-S.'Perry. G. H Scholefield, W. S. Wauchop; hon. secretary, Mr. A. G. ' Bagnall;- hon. treasurer, Mr. K. G. Mawson! committee M'sses A. Denton, K. Harvey,' R. C. Reid, and F; J. I. Wfflson, Messrs. E. H. McCormick, I. K. McGregor, W. "W. Mason, and J. X): Wilson. »