Auckland’s Overcrowded Library

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 105, 25 July 1927, Page 8

Auckland’s Overcrowded Library

No Room for Expansion

AUCKLAND Library is so overcrowded that it is incapable of expansion. The problem is considered so acute, that in the interest of the half-million Aucklanders, more or less, who visit the central library during the year, something should be done to ease the situation. The Chief Librarian, Mr. John Barr, has commented upon this aspect many times. He again brings it up in this year’s annual reports of the activities of the city libraries before the city council.

THE number of volumes contained 1 in the libraries, including the Leys Institute, is estimated to be 135.G22, Mr. Barr points out. Of these, 65,130 are located in the reference departments, and 70,492 in the lending departments, including the children’s sections and school libraries. Combining the issues from the lending departments with the books consulted in the reference department of the central library and the Leys In-

stitute, the result shows that 666,445 volumes were used during the year. The routine work of the library in all its departments has been kept up to date. The following additions have been made:—Reference department, 2,462 cards; lending department, 2,030; children’s department, 328. The re-accessioning of the Sir George Grey Collection was advanced as opportunity offered. USEFUL ARTS AND TRADES “With the growth of the library system the important work which the central library is called upon to carry out may occasionally be overlooked,” says Mr. Barr. “Out of the total visitors to all the libraries (595,920) more than two-thirds, 417,224, were recorded at the central library. An especially pleasing feature of the work of the central lending department was the steadily increasing use made of books other than Action. “It is gratifying to know that the efforts which have been put forth to popularise this side of the department’s activities are appreciated,” he says. The use made of the various classes of books varies very little from year to year, and the section devoted to the useful arts and trades still maintains its priority. Important donations received came from the New Zealand Government, the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Mr. Henry Shaw added 17 volumes to his cellection, including the “Alba Bible,” and a

“Lives of the Saints,” bound by Zaehasdorf. Intimation of intention to present his collection relating to Alexandre Dumas, pere, was received from Mr. F. W. Reed, of Whangarei, and an agreement has been drawn up, vesting the collection jointly in the donor’s name and of the Auckland City Council; the collection to remain in Mr. Reed’s custody until his decease. This collection, which will be known as the Reed Dumas Collection, contains about 700 separate items, and it is still being added to. Another offer of a special collec tion was received from Mr. Lewis Eady, who signified his intention of presenting a collection of books devoted to music scores and the literature relating to music, history, theory and practice. The collection consists of 639 volumes. The council willingly accepted this offer, and the books were immediately ordered from London.

The council has agreed to name the collection the “Lewis Eady Music Section,” and Cr. L. A. Eady has undertaken to enlarge the collection from time to time, so that it always will be up to date. This is believed to be the first separate music section to be instituted in a public library in Australia or New Zealand.

CHILDREN AVAIL THEMSELVES Two new schools, at Point Chevalier and Gladstone Road, were added to the schools participating In the scheme of public library and public school co-operation. Vermont Street boys’ school dropped out of the system, and with the closing of the Newton East School the books from their school were transferred to stock. This year’s increase was accounted for largely by the full school year and a betterment in recording the Issues, which were rather carelessly taken in the previous year. Apart from these, the figures are an indication of .the excellent use which the school children are making of the books. The outstanding feature of the use made of the libraries was that, while the attendance at the various libraries was on the whole greater than in the previous year, one or two libraries showed decreases. At Grey Lynn and Parnell branches this was particularly noticeable. It is estimated that 595,920 persons visited the various departments of the central and branch libraries, excluding the lending sections, an increase of 15,468 over the total of the previous year. HALF-MILLION MARK The number of volumes consulted in the reference departments of the central library and the Leys Institute was 130,043 volumes, a decrease of 2,723. The drop in the figures was male at the central library, the Leys Institute showing a slight increase. The popularity of the lending departments of the various libraries is unabated, and for the first time in the library’s history the number of volumes issued for horns reading passed the half-million mark.