Increase Shown in Library Subscribers

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1943, Page 4

Increase Shown in Library Subscribers

Thr nombc of subscribers and m-mbcrs had increased from 20-tfl to 2376. said the report of the New Plymouth public library and Taranaki museum committee, presented by the actins chairman, Mr. \V. H. Skinner, to the anoual meetinpr. The createst increase was in the chi'dren's section, and the library was now being repaid for the work and organisation it had given to the school library serviee over the past few years. The influence of the war on literature was more pronounced again this y"ar, a large proportion of the books having a haekground of the war. Accessions for the year were: New Zealand reference 85 (133 in the previous year), general literature 103 (381), fiction 957 (155), cliildren's 55 (221); total 150(1 (1193). The issues showed an increase of 12,360 nvff the previous voar, the total issues for the vear being: Oen"ral literature 25.619 (21 093). fiction 100.811 (97,891): child'-en's 17.811 (11.175). maeazincs 10,231 (9713): total 154,535 (142.175). It was docidrd to continue the system of rescrving book.s, but if there wern two conies onl.v one would be reserved, the other being put into open circulatlon. In the death of Miss C. A. Douglas the committee had lost a valuable nvnuber. said Mr Skinner. Her work. especiailv in connection with the museum, was always donc capably and with great interest atid cfilclent ovganisation. neferencc was also made to the denths of Mr. VV. T. Guild and Mr. A. T,. Moore, who were actlve committee members. Because he had observed deterioration in original documents, photographs and watercolours, Mr. F. Butler suggested thal ropies be taken and the ncgatives flled. He also urged that because good material for backing could not be obtained, photographs should be unmounted. Ommenting on the first proposal, Mr. S. R. Morrison said it was good, but it was almost impossibic to buy films. He suggested that if the Dominion Museum were ► pproachcd n grant might he made for nnv valuable photogranhs ancl watercolours that were rapidly fading.