GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY (REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1944)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1944 Session I, H-32

H.-32

1944 NEW ZEALAND

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY (REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1944)

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

To the Chairman, Joint Library Committee. Sir, — I have the honour to report on the operations of the General Assembly Library for the year 1943-44. Accessions. —During the year 2,997 volumes were added to the Library stock, as compared with an average of 3,350 for the previous thirteen years. At 31st March, 1944, the number of books accessioned was 168,300. The accessions for the year were classified as follows : bibliography, 68 ; newspapers, 103; philosophy, 20; religion, 81 ; sociology, 696 ; parliamentary, 175 ; philology, 20; natural science, 91 ; useful arts, 240 ; line arts, 120 ; literature, 269 ; travel and history, 619 ; biography, 213 ; New Zealand literature, 31 ; fiction, 255. Losses of books in transit were considerably less than in the earlier war years. The more prompt arrival of books in response to orders, especially after the arrangement for receiving American publications through the Supply Mission at Washington, has somewhat reduced the credit balance, against which, however, there is still a large number of book orders outstanding. Owing to shortage of paper and limited editions, many publications are out of print before our requests reach England. Donations. —Gifts were received from the American Legation (Wellington), the Australian Trade Commissioner (Wellington), Hon. W. E. Barnard (Tauranga), J. A. Capper (Wellington), Consul-General for Poland (Wellington), Consul-General of Belgium (Wellington), Consul of Netherlands (Wellington), Consul of Switzerland (Wellington), P. B. Cooke (Wellington), Captain J. Cormick (Wellington), C. J. Dickeson (Kaikohe), executors Right Hon. J. G. Coates, executors Mrs. H. D. Crawford, Mrs. G. M. Fowlds (Auckland), B. D. A. Greig (Wellington), Sir Edward Grigg (England), Library of Congress (Washington), Colonel J. H. Nankivell (Wellington), Prime Minister's Department (Wellington), Rosicrucian Fellowship Group Centre (Auckland), and Jos. Stewart (Waimea West). The Year's Work. —The year has been a particularly arduous one. In the first session of the new Parliament (February-March, 1944) there were exceptional calls on the reference and research department, to which the depleted staff of the whole Library responded with admirable enthusiasm. They had also a very heavy physical task in the reception and distribution of more than 17 tons of books which had been sent away early in 1942 for safety during the war. In this the whole staff, with the assistance of four members of the Legislative Department, gave ungrudging service. New shelving is urgently called for to accommodate the growing stock. Great difficulty has been experienced in keeping pace with the routine work and processes of the Library. The continued absence of trained personnel on active service is now being most severely felt. During the year B. D. Zohrab and Miss M. Webster returned from overseas, but neither of them resumed duty on the staff. Mr. Zohrab accepted appointment on a Ministerial staff, and Miss Webster resigned to be married. A. S. Wickens and Miss M. Hogg have been appointed to the permanent staff, and Miss M. B. Young has been appointed a library assistant. i

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Interloan. —The number of books lent by the General Assembly Library in response to requests from other libraries was 618 (compared with 499 last year and 491 the previous year). The great growth of this valuable phase of library co-operation is shown by our own loans from year to year, advancing from 85 in the first year to 302 in the third year and 618 in this (the sixth) year. The Country Library Service took 440 books (compared with 408 last year). Other borrowing libraries included the Wellington Public Library (69) and Palmerston North Public Library (19). The books lent were classified as follows : history and biography, 211 ; sociology, 134 ; literature, 117 ; useful arts, 35 ; philosophy, 33 ; fine arts, 31 ; religion, 23 ; natural science, 23 ; bibliography, 6 ; philology, 5. There were only 9 requests we could not satisfy. The General Assembly Library borrowed 27 volumes through interloan from other libraries. Recess Privileges. —There was again a considerable increase in the number of persons using the Library on the recess privilege. This year the number was 617 (as compared with 475, 308, and 289 in preceding years). During recess, 78 baskets and 297 parcels were posted to members of Parliament. Archives. —lt is hoped that during the coming year further accommodation will enable this work to expand. During the year some useful field-work was carried out. International Exchange. —Owing to the war, exchange with foreign countries is practically nil, but a lively interest is being shown by the British dominions, especially Australia. Arrangements have now been made with the exchange agents in the United States for publications to come forward every two or three months instead of holding them for one largo consignment. We therefore received three shipments of exchange documents during the year, consisting of 38 cases (21 of which were for the General Assembly Library) and 3,503 packages, which we posted or delivered to other Departments and private addresses. This compares with 25 cases and 2,720 packages in the previous year. Again I would express my appreciation of the fine work done cheerfully by a depleted staff in the Library and of the efficiency of the book-ordering staffs in London and Washington. I would also acknowledge the consideration shown by the Joint Library Committee. The statement of receipts and expenditure for the year, with the Auditor-General's certificate, is attached. I am, &c, G. H. Scholefield, Chief Librarian and Archivist.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY ACCOUNT Statement for the Year ended 31st March, 1944 Receipts £ s. d. Payments Balance .. .. .. .. 1,192 18 2 Purchase of books and periodicals in— £ s. d. Annual grant .. .. .. 1,250 0 0 United Kingdom .. .. .. 815 13 0 Refunds lost books, &c. .. 4 13 11 United States .. .. .. 250 19 10 Private Bill fees .. . . . . 25 0 0 Australia .. .. .. .. 30 8 2 New Zealand . . .. .. 296 12 10 Bank charge .. .. . . .. 0 10 0 Cheque-book .. .. .. .. 0 10 0 Petty expenses .. 0 3 8 Balance, Bank of New Zealand .. .. 1,071 14 7 £2,472 12 1 £2,472 12 1 "" ' ; : ■ iw i ii .- —■ ,r-,-^i G. H. Scholefield, Chief Librarian. Examined and found correct. —Cyril G. Collins, Controller.and Auditor-General. 11th May, 1944.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (448 copies), £8.

Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—1944.

Price 3d.]

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