NEW PLYMOUTH LIBRARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143473, 21 April 1911, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH LIBRARY.

ANNUAL REPORT,

The following report will bo presented at the annual meeting of suusenuers to the New Plymouth Public Library to-night;—■ For many years past it has been customary to hold the annual meeting in tho month of January, but in accordance witli a resolution passed at the last annual meeting tho library year now ends 011 March 31, and tho annual meeting is hold in tho month of April in each year. Members.—The number of members on tho books on January 1, 1911, was 241, being a; slight decrease on tho preceding year.

Finance.—From a financial standpoint the year lias been a very satisfactory one, the accounts showing a substantial credit balance of £'l2o 15s lid. Against this, how'over, there aro outstanding liabilities amounting to £37 17s Cd, leaving a net credit balance of £B2 18s sd. Included in this amount is a sum. of £23 which has been set aside by the committee for tho purpose of replacing and completing sets of works by standard authors. . • Library Hooks.—On January 1 last thcro were 7263 volumes in tho library, of which 213 were added during the year. The number of books taken out from January 1, 1910, to January 1, 1911, was as follows History and biography 185 (previous year 202); geography and travel, 204 (226); science, 27 (37); .fiction, 16,148 (16,382); miscellaneous, 135 (135); totals, 1911, IG.GG9; 1910, JG/JB2. J

Selection Committee.—During the year the members’ representatives were appointed to select books to bo ordered, and they are entitled to the thanks of tho members for tho time and trouble they have given to this matter. Staff.—The librarian (Miss Free) and tho custodian (Mr. Ford) have given every' satisfaction in tho discharge of their duties. Thanks.—ln conclusion, tho committee desires to place on record its thanks to all those who have during the year made donations of books to tho reference library, and to the proprietors of a number of newspapers, who have supplied papers free to the reading room.