GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1917-18.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1918 Session I-II, H-32

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Session 11. 1918. NEW ZEALAND.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1917-18.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

The Chief Librarian - to the Chairman of the Joint Library Committee. Sir — I have the honour to submit the following report for the year 1917-18 : — Recess Library Committee. The Recess Library Committee, under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Sir William Hall-Jones, K.C.M.G., M.L.C., held four meetings during the recess. Lists of books suggested for orders were brought before the Committee by the Chief Librarian and duly considered. Recess Privileges. The number of permits issued to non-members during the recess was 647. This is the highest number of permits yet recorded as having been issued in any one recess, being an increase of 87 over the number recorded for 1916-17. There was a corresponding increase in the number of volumes issued, the total number being 11,668, as against 9,004 for the recess of 1916-17, an increase of 2,664 volumes. No doubt the exceptional length of the recess was largely the reason for the above increases. As usual, no fiction was issued to non-members, save to persons on the full-privilege list (the members of the Governor-General's staff, the Judges, and the officers of the House). It is gratifying to note the fact that the volumes remaining out to borrowers at the close of the recess was under a dozen, and in each case special permission had been given to the borrowers to retain the works, which were being used for reference purposes by various State officials. A return of the vocations of the various recess-privilege holders has been prepared, and is at the disposal of members of the Committee. Additions to the Library. The Accessions List for the year 1917-18 shows that between the 18th June, 1917, and the 25th June, 1918, the number of catalogued accessions was 2,057. This is a much lower number than that recorded for the preceding period of 1916-17, and is to some extent accounted for by the fact that fewer books of importance were published during the year. Between the 25th June and the Bth November, 1,084 titles were added to the catalogue. Many of these represent works which should have been received in the usual library year, but arrived too late to be included in the Accessions List. Due attention has been paid to literature dealing with the war, and in the important department of sociology the additions have been exceptionally numerous. The total number of publications catalogued stands on the register (Bth November) at 95,811. On the Ist February, 1901. when the present Chief Librarian assumed charge, the number on the Accessions Register stood at 36,803. Thus in a little over seventeen years and a half the number of catalogued books and other publications has increased by 59,008. I hope that early in 1920 the total will stand at 100,000. The Staff. There have been no changes in the staff arrangements during the year. Stock-taking. In accordance with the scheme outlined in my report for the year 1913, under which stocktaking proceeds every recess, different classes being dealt with each year, stock was taken of the two important classes 910 (Voyages and Travels) and 920 (Biography). The following is the result :— Missing at Stock-taking. 191.3. 19 8. Class 910, Voyages, &c. ... ... ... ... 63 28 Class 920, Biography ... ... ... ... 55 18 118 41

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These figures show that during the period intervening between 1913 and 191.8 77 volumes have been recovered. It should be noted that during the same period 706 volumes have been added to the above classes—Class 910 (Voyages and Travels), 401 ; and Class 920 (Biography), 305. The Library Annexe. For some years past, under the head of " The Space Problem," attention has been drawn in the Library reports to the necessity for the provision of increased shelving-accommodation. it is with satisfaction that 1 chronicle the fact that the space difficulty is in course of being removed by the occupation as a Library Annexe of the rooms previously occupied by the Valuation Department. Communication with these rooms has been provided by a staircase leading from the top stack-room. A certain amount of shelving has been erected, and already a number of volumes, not in common use, have been transferred from the Library basement. During the next recess 1 hope to transfer several thousand more volumes to the Annexe, a portion of which has been temporarily lent to the Pay Branch of the Defence Department. Tables and chairs have been placed in the Annexe, which has been equipped with telephone communication, and is already being used as a spare writing-room. Next year, when the Pay Branch vacates the second portion of the Annexe, I hope to provide accommodation for members to receive persons with whom they may have business to transact, and that in other ways a certain amount of the space not occupied with shelving may be available for the accommodation of members. Portraits. During the year there have been hung on the Library walls photographic portraits of the late Hon. Dr. Robert McNab, M.P., James Macandrew. M.H.E., and E. T. Conolly, M.H.R. A brief record of the parliamentary services of each gentleman is inscribed below the portraits, which are uniformly and suitably framed. Miscellaneous. Copies of the Library Rules, with lists of persons on the full sessional privilege list, have been circulated. The issue of monthly lists of new accessions to the Library has been continued. The Library order for books and periodicals purchased in London have, as usual, received due attention from Messrs. Sotheran and Co. and Messrs. Street and Co. 1 have to tender my thanks to the Chairman of the Joint Library Committee, G. J. Anderson, Esq.. M.P., and to the Chairman of the Recess Library Committee, Sir William Hall-Jones, K.C.M.G., M.L.C., for the attention each has paid to Library matters during the year; also to the High Commissioner and his staff for the promptness and care displayed in connection with Library business in London. Library Accounts. In an appendix will be found the Library balance-sheet for the year ended 31st March, 1918, with a copy of the Auditor's certificate. I have, &c Charles Wilson, Chief Librarian.

APPENDIX. Balance-sheet for the Year ended 31st March, 1918. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. 31st March, 1917, balance brought forward 746 911 Books and periodicals purchased in Great Treasury, annual grant.. .. .. 000 0 0 Britain .. .. .. .. 242 210 Private Bill fees .. .. .. 25 0 0 Books, &c, purchased in New Zealand .. 241 18 9 American periodicals .. .. .. 14 2 7 Portraits ' .. .. .. .. 15 15 0 Sundry small accounts and petty cash .. 516 0 Fire insurance .. .. .. .. 18 0 0 (Jheque-book .. .. .. .. 010 0 Balance at Bank of New Zealand, 31st March, 191.8.. .. .. .. 833 4 9 £1,371 911 £1,371 911 Examined and found correct. —Robert J. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General. Note. —A large portion of the unexpended balance at close of financial year ended 31st March, 1918, will, I expect, have been expended (in meeting current accounts and commitments) before the receipt of this year's grant. Charles Wilson, Chief Librarian.

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