CARNEGIE LIBRARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 283, 2 May 1914, Page 7

CARNEGIE LIBRARY.

SUBSCRIBERS' MEETING. At the annual meeting of subscribers of the Carnegie Library last night, there was a very sparse attendance, only four subscribers, besides the committee, being •resent. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of the Committee etated that the year was commenced with a debit balance of £5 14s 2d. In addition to the £IOO set apart by the Borough Council for the purchase of books the Committee received £4O 15s (Id subsidy from the Government, including the previous year's subsidy, which was not paid until the end of that year. Out of this the Committee expended £lO2 2s 7d, and there were oiitstanding accounts amounting to approximately/ £35 10s sd, leaving a small credit balance. , The expenditure of allocations was as follows: —Fiction allocation £SO, expenditure £35 3s 2d; magazine allocation £22, expenditure £32 12s lOd; general literature other than fiction allocation £52, expenditure £34 (is .7d. The number of .subscribers as compared last vear was as follows:—Yearly 120 in "1912; 121 in 1013, 123 in 1014; half-yearly, 50 53 and 55; quarterly, 47, 51 and 50; magazines, nrl, 7(i and 78. On March 31, 1914, there were 8335 volumes in the Library, of which 382 were added during the year. The number of books issued for home reading for the past two years was: History and biography, 1013 270, 1014 281;' geography and travel, 301 and, 342; science, 26 and 20; ftction, 18,028 and 10,078; miscellaneous, 231 and 33. It, was hoped that the classification of books would be completed during the ensuing winter. Reference was made to the successful free circulation of books to senior schqol children, which had been much appreciated by the teaehers, and to the interesting lectures delivered under the auspices of the Committee. The Reference Library had been well patronised, and an endeavour was being made to strengthen the works of reference and bring this department right upi to date. The chairman (Mr. P. White) explained that the excess of expenditure on magazines over the amount allocated for that purpose, us it appeared in the report, was accounted for by the fact that a temporary advance of £l2 had been made, which would be debited against next year's allocation.

The Teport was adopted, without discussion.

SUBSCRIBERS' REPRESENTATIVES. Subscribers' representatives oft the committee were appointed as follows: Messrs G. H. Dolby, R. G. Whotter, O. E. Baker, and W. H, Moves.