NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1947

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1947 Session I, H-32a

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1947 NEW ZEALAND

NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1947

Presented, to both Housed of the General Assembly by Leave

The Hon. the Minister of Education. Sir,— Wellington, 12th June, 1947. I have the honour to submit the following report on the activities of the National Library Service, The report covers the work of the three divisions Of the Service—Country Library Service, Library School, and National Library Centre. G. T. Alley, Director.

SECTION I.—COUNTRY LIBRARY SERVICE During the year this Service has expanded, and at 31st March, 1947, 684 towns and small centres were receiving regular loans of books, an increase of 46 centres on the previous year. The School Library Service has also increased, and at 31st March 1,353 schools with 85,226 children were being served, compared with 1,204 schools and 73,542 children a year ago. A summary of the methods by which books, periodicals, and information are made available. to country people is now given (a) Free loans of books on a. population basis to libraries controlled by local authorities, which in turn agree to make their libraries free and to maintain reasonable standards of library service; (5) Loans of books to independent subscription public libraries at a small annual charge per one hundred books loaned; (c) Loans of books through travelling-hamper collections to isolated groups of readers at a 'small annual charge; and (d) Loans through the post of books free of charge to isolated readers. All libraries served under (a>) ■ and (&} receive regular visits from one of the specially equipped book-vans of this Service, at least three visits, being paid to each library during a normal year. In addition, all persons, whether served by the free public library or through the isolated group, may obtain loans of requested books by post from the headquarters of this Service. Books loaned by the School Library Service are distributed on a circulating basis in special containers.

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FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES: "A " SERVICE At 31st March, 1947, there were 67 borough and town district libraries and 1 _ County Council library co-operating with this Service, a total of 68, as against 63 oil 31st March, 1946. The following are the libraries in centres of under 15,000 population which give free service: Bulls, Cambridge, Dannevirke, Dargaville, Eketahuna, Eltham, Featherston, Feilding, Hawera, Helensville, Huntly, Inglewood, Kaikohe, Kaitaia, Kaponga, Kawakawa, Levin, Martinborough, Matamata, Morrinsville, Ohakune, Otaki, Otorohanga, Paeroa, Pahiatua, Papatoetoe, Patea, Putaruru, Raetihi, Rotorua, Taihape, Taradale, Tauranga, Te Aroha, Te Awamutu, Te Karaka, Te Kuiti, Te Puke, Thames, Waihi, Waipawa, Waipukurau, Waiuku, and Woodville in the North Island; and Alexandra, Ashburton, Balclutha, Blenheim, Bluff, Cromwell, Grey mouth, Hokitika, Kaiapoi, Lawrence, Lyttelton, Mataura, Motueka, Otautau, Palmerston, Picton, Port Chalmers, Queenstown, Rangiora, Richmond, Roxburgh, Runanga, Waimate, and the Mackenzie County in the South Island. Two other libraries, Whangarei and Waitara, had decided to make the change to free service and were waiting to do so at, 31st March, 1947. The libraries listed above serve a local population of 150,035, as well as a considerable population in their vicinity, and 24,522 books are on regular loan to them. 1 , in addition to many specially requested books and subject loan collections. One trained assistant was seconded to the Lower Hutt Municipal Library prior to the change to free service there on Ist April, 1947, It may be useful to set out the free services that are available to libraries serving populations of under 15,000 by co-operation with this Service:— (1) Loans of books from the book-van, the number of which is in proportion to the population served. These are changed two or three times a year. (2), The request service, which sends through the post special books that are asked for by readers. (3) Collections of 20 to 80 books on almost any subject. These books stay at the libraries for? two months, and may be renewed for a longer period if desired. In addition to supplementing the library's own stock for general purposes, these collections are found to be particularly useful* in giving service to local societies. (4) Periodicals may be obtained on a rota system. Each library receives a certain number each month,, and posts them on after* a month has elapsed. This help is given subject to the following conditions:— (1) The Borough Council or Town Board agrees to assume responsibility for the library. This need not prevent the co-option to the Library Committee of people who are not Councillors or members of the Town Board. , (2) The local authority agrees to abolish subscriptions for the use of the_ library by residents of the local area, and to issue free nonfiction and fiction of a good literary standard or some subject value, as well as the books lent by this Service. The supply of light fiction—pay collection material—should not be a charge on the local authority, but the cost should be recoverable. (3) The local authority agrees to maintain the library at a reasonable standard of efficiency. This implies an annual allocation to the library of money which will cover the costs of administration and the purchase of new books for the free collection.

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• Libraries outside the four main cities serving a local population of over 15,000 may, if free service is in operation, receive subject loan collections and the request service. In addition, one trained reference assistant will be seconded from the National Library Service if a satisfactory standard of service is maintained and if the local authority desires this secondment to be made. To all the libraries affiliated with this Service, advice and assistance is available. The National Library Service has no power of control over the libraries in New Zealand; indeed, it is desirable that in every case local autonomy should be preserved. Good library service can only be attained if the local authorities and local people realize its full and potential value. In the extension of library work in small towns' the part played by the librarian is of the greatest importance; the librarian will demonstrate the effectiveness of the library^service by watching for every opportunity.for it to be used. For example, a good librarian will see that societies, groups, and industries, however small, use the library in connection with their activities, by providing speakers with books for their talks and by having books actually at their meetings and issued to people th&re. It> is regrettable that in many cases the librarian is overburdened with routine duties which absorb much time, and with little benefit to the work as a whole. It should be noted that repair work done in the library, no matter how well, can frequently be done more effectively and more economically by skilled tradesmen. At the same time, it is desirable that the smaller libraries should employ on an hourly basis casual labour for the routine work involved in issuing and discharging books, putting books away, &c., in order to free the librarian for the more important work to be done in attending to readers' requests and library extension. The standard of service in the smaller free libraries is very uneven. Where the local authority has been reluctant to make adequate financial provision for library services, the cause in many cases lies in the failure of the librarian, through preoccupation with the routines mentioned above, to make the necessary outside contacts) and to exploit the stock sufficiently. In some cages local authorities have not conformed to the conditions of participation in this Service, in that they have failed to make adequate funds available for maintaining a satisfactory standard of service. It was never intended, that help from this Service should be a substitute for local enterprise; it has always been emphasized that the books lent by this Service should act as a subsidy on local effort, The aim is to -supply books which it would be uneconomical for local libraries' to buy, those which are better provided on a co-operative basis. In many cases they act as a guide for the library's own buying. While it is not desirable for libraries to attempt to build a large reference collection, it should be possible for every library to maintain a small collection for quick reference purposes, and to preserve the material published locally and about the district. The libraries serving a population over 1,500 are expected to spend money, apart from fiction buying, on informational books for their free collection which are sufficiently in demand for them to be held permanently by the library. It is thought that these libraries should now be in a position to buy for their own use books which are of practical interest to people—e.g.,, books on hobbies and crafts, gardening, child care, dressmaking, &c.

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In those libraries where the librarian has been active in the district and has, asi far as possible, supplied the requirements of local readers by building up the library's own stock and by borrowing extensively from this Service, the appreciation of local people has been so marked that the local authority has felt justified in] making liberal financial provision from public funds. It has been noted that in many districts there are proposals to build new libraries and community centres as war memorials. Local authorities planning new buildings are encouraged to seek advice from this Service or from the New' Zealand Library Association. It should be emphasized that it is neither necessary nor desirable to have small library buildings modelled on designs intended for larger cities. In the smaller centres the foremost requirements are informality, effective display of books, and a cheerful atmosphere. The type of library that is best suited for the smaller •centres is the one-room library on the main street,, with wall shelving at a convenient height, and with chairs and tables for comfortable browsing. Newspapers should not command a whole room, but can be quite well accommodated, if they are .considered necessary, on small racks within the main room. The library in the smaller' centre is the natural meeting-place for the feomm unity, and can often be used for discussion groups; and other educational activities, Future Development op the Service Of the 106 cities and boroughs (excluding boroughs within the metropolitan areas) with populations over 500, 60, including Auckland, Dunedin, Palmerston North, and Timaru, 'were giving free service at 31st March, 1947. One county, the MacKenzie County, attempts to cover the whole of its area; two other counties, Eltham and Rotorua, each make a grant to borough libraries to enable some county people to receive service from them. Help from this Service is available to those counties which make satisfactory financial provision for free library purposes in the following way: a grant, in proportion to the population to be served, should be paid to the Borough Council by the County Councils through District Library Committees, which will provide representation from both Borough and County Councils and readers living at a distance from the borough. The District Library Committees may be called upon to meet the charges of maintaining at a satisfactory standard the various smaller libraries which were previously independent, and should recommend to the Borough Councils accordingly. The existing libraries which receive regular visits from the National Library Service book-van] under the present B scheme would have the option of continuing to do so<, or of having service from the nearby borough library. The present charge made to these libraries will be immediately abolished. Other centres within the county may expect to receive and administer deposit collections of books which will be regularly changed. If satisfactory free service to the county is given, this Service will make available to the borough libraries additional loans of books according to the population served. It is felt that in the development of this Service first priority should be given to encouraging local authorities to give free service in counties, boroughs, and town districts. Because of the shortage of trained staff and suitable buildings, it is difficult to; see how immediate effect can be given to the proposals, submitted in 1944 and 1945, to develop the Service on a regional basis, linking city and country services in one unit. It isi thought that in the circumstances it will be necessary in the meantime to continue the present policy of close liaison between the smaller libraries and the distributing headquarters of this Service.

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SMALL INDEPENDENT SUBSCRIPTION LIBRARIES: "B " SERVICE During the year, 555 of these libraries were linked to this Service, compared with the previous year's figure of 504. Of these libraries, ♦ 301 are in the North Island and 254 in the South Island. Altogether, 43,025 books were on loan to these "B" libraries, an average' of approximately 77 books. Figures showing the growth of thisi section of the Country Library Service are now given:—

Nearly all these smaller libraries are in counties. As stated above, a considerable task lies ahead in organizing l a service to them which will compare favourably with that given in the best free borough libraries. There are, however, signs of increasing interest among County Councils in library development. " " C " OR HAMPER SERVICE In places where no library exists and where it is not possible for one to be formed and visited by the book-van, the service to properly established groups -by means! of travelling hampers has been continued. During the year, 59 groups received service and 9 groups were converted to " B " service and are now receiving visits from the book-van. POSTAL OR " D " SERVICE This service to people in really isolated places out of reach of an established library has increased greatly. There are now 803 active members, as compared with 674 at the same period last year. The augmented Christchurch office of this Service has now been in operation for the first complete year and figures can ..be' given separately: North Island, 569; South Island, 234; total, 803. These numbers include field cadets attached to Lincoln Agricultural College, but working in country districts, who are supplied with general reading on farming and agriculture. The service to lighthouse keepers and assistant keepers and their families has increased. Twenty lighthouses with a total of 101 borrowers are supplied, as compared with 19 lighthouses' and 81 borrowers last year. A total of 1,216 booksi were sent out. REQUEST SERVICE All libraries, groups, lighthouses, and individuals .who receive library service from the Country Library Service can ask for special short-term loans of books of an informational type from the headquarters stock of this

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Number of Date of Annual Report (H.-32A). "S " B " Libraries participating. 31st 1939 179 31st March, 1940 265 31st March, 1941 .. .. .. . .. 302 .A 31st March, 1942 348 31st March, 1943 .. .. 368 31st March, 1944 391 31st March, 1945 423 31st March, 1946 504 31st March, 1947 555

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Service. During the'year, 20,767 requests were received, of which 20,392 were filled, the majority from our own stock; 370 (1-8 per cent.) were not filled either ' because the requested book was unobtainable or because the request was not Within the scope of the Service—i.e., light fiction or nonfiction of an ephemeral kind. Of the total supplied, 1,053 were sent to A.E.W.S. libraries in response to requests:—

f. Books borrowed from other libraries throughout New Zealand were of great help in meeting requests; 1,803 volumes were borrowed for libraries participating in this Service/ of which 454 volumes were lent by the General Assembly Library. To this and other libraries grateful acknowledgment is made for this help, without which the proportion of unfilled requests would have "been higher. Some of the most popular subjects requested were floral decoration; painting in oil and water colours; dressmaking and sewing; house-planning and interior decoration; gardening; child psychology. Many books were requested for University and secondary-school studies. \ LOAN COLLECTIONS Two hundred and forty special collections, consisting of 9,840 books and 941 periodicals and pamphlets, were issued to libraries for periods of two months. The previous year, 184 such collections, totalling 7,484 books, had been issued. The most popular subject was again gardening. Among other subjects in demand were hobbies and crafts; music; homecraft; New Zealand; art; drama and theatre; child care; sports and pastimes; and books for intermediate readers —boys and girls between the ages; of thirteen and eighteen years. Loan collections were issued to 55 libraries linked with this Service, and 17 collections were sent to teachers' training colleges, W.E.A. summer schools, Education Department refresher courses, and to other libraries outside the Service which required them for special purposes:—

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— North Island. South Island. Total. Supplied Not supplied 13,000 324 7,393 50 20,393 374 1 13,324 7,443 20,767

North Island. South ( Island. Total. Number of collections to Country Library Service libraries To other libraries Number of books issued Number of Country Library Service libraries served 120 12 103 5 223 17 132 108 240 6,552 3,228 9,840 42 13 55

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PERIODICALS SERVICE A total of 480 periodicals is now taken by this Service. One hundred and thirty-seven titles have been sent out regularly (231 copies) to 58 free participating libraries. Each library received up to 31 periodicals chosen from the list, in lots of from five to nine, sending the periodicals on to other libraries at the end of the month:—

WORK WITH CHILDREN^ Report of the School Library Service Although owing to conditions caused by the recent war many books desired for schools have not yet been reprinted, more frequent and larger supplies from overseas brought an addition of 26,786 books to the collection for circulation among schools. A total of 85,226 children in 1,353 schools now receive books from a stock of 151,568 (101,629 fiction and 49,939 non-fiction). These children are in primary and district high- schools (86) in country districts and in towns with population of not more than 10,000 people. Seventy-two Native schools are included in the number. For convenience of distribution, the schools are divided geographically into 24 groups, among which books circulate from 1 of 9 centres. Eight of these groups receive books from the Auckland office of the National Library Service, 4 from the Palmerston North office, 3 from the Christchurch office, 1 from the Nelson office, and 4 from the Wellington office. The public libraries of Dunedin, Greymouth, Timaru, and Wanganui are the centres- for their own districts. To carry out the school library work, two members, of the National Library Service staff have been seconded to Dunedin Public Library and one each to Grreymouth and Wanganui Public Libraries. By the end of the financial year, 878 schools had qualified for free service by paying the required levy for two complete and consecutive years and carrying out all other conditions of the School Library Service which apply to them. To provide more effectively for individual taste' and for specific demands, for reading-material aroused by school studies, a referep.ee and request service has been started.. Sufficient accumulation of books and increase in trained staff have made possible this development of the Service among schools receiving books from the Christchurch and Nelson offices. Inclusion of other schools will proceed as staffing and accommodation allow. In response to a request from the City Librarian, Wellington Public for assistance with his schools' department, a member of the National Library Service'staff wasi seconded to take charge ,of the department for a period of six months from February, 1947,

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—: " s North Island. South Island. 1 Total. Number of libraries , . . 39 19 00 lO #

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The table below shows the state of the School Library Service at 31st March, 1947: '*'■ - •*' • .' ■' ■ t, : . <

HOSPITAL AND INSTITUTIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE With the 'appointment to the staff of a graduate trained in hospital library work at the University; of . Minnesota, a survey of the existing facilities of libraries in hospitals has been begun. Since the New Zealand Library Association's questionnaire to Hospital Boards in 1945, it has been realized that libraries for patients are not yet established in all hospitals of the country. Of existing libraries, few reach the standards agreed on by ■overseas hospital librarians! and hospital administrators as the minimum. The provision of adequate hospital library service can best be done by the free public libraries of" the country, following the example given by Du'nedin, Timaru, Greymouth, and Tauranga Public Libraries. Service through the public library means that sufficient books of the right type can be provided for all patients, that request and interloan service can be .supplied, and that modern developments in hospital libraries can be aimed at. As a start in promoting the spread of. hospital libraries, • assistance in the form of books and advice in organizing hospital library service will be offered bv National Library Service to free public libraries in the smaller boroughs which undertake service to hospital patients. The administration of this library service will bei carried out locally, either by the local public librarian, or by a committee in cases where help in circillation of books is given by voluntary organizations such. as the Red Cross Society. The Committee on Hospital Libraries of the New Zealand Library Association is to consider the compilation of a book-list for use in hospital libraries. One prison and one Borstal institution have now received collections of books, which will be (exchanged three times a year. Selection is suited to the special needs of inmates. Request service also is', made available. A similar service is to be extended to all .prisons. BOOK STOCK During the year additions to stock were 53,297 vokimes—l9,93o fiction and 33,367 non-fiction. Withdrawals were 3,794 —3,313 fiction and 481 nonfiction—making net, additions 49,503. The adult stock of the Service now stands at 208,068, made up of 76,958 fiction and 131,110 non-fiction. At 31st March, 1947, stock of the children's section was 151,568, making a grand total of all stock of 359,636 volumes. Difficulty in obtaining books from

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Education Boards. Schools served. Children (Standard Classes). Books on Issue at One Time (excluding those in Transit). Auckland 416 35,615 36,156 Canterbury Hawke's Bay 216 10,178 11,026 110 „ 6,975' 7,303 Nelson 64 3,637 3,864 Qtago .. .. 155 7,361 10,791 Southland 84 3,.507 3,706 Taranaki 34 2,268 2,324 Wanganui 149 7,185 7,791 Wellington 125 8,500 9,005 • 1,353 85,226 91,966

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overseas has continued but isi decreasing. In addition to the stock mentioned above, 1,129 books were purchased during the year for extended loan to A.E.W.S. Library. The very great assistance given by overseas agencies of the New Zealand Government in securing- publications for the Service is acknowledged. SECTION lI.—LIBRARY SCHOOL Report by the Director: Miss M. P. Parsons During the second year of its existence the Library School completed the first course for training professional librarians, held the first short course for librarians of small public libraries, and opened the second professional course. 1946 PROFESSIONAL COURSE The closing meeting of the first professional course was held on 29th November, 1946, to mark the completion of an academic year's intensive study in the field of library service. An address was given by the Minister of the United States of America. Twenty-six diplomas and 3 certificates were awarded by the Minister of Education to the following 29 students, who had been accepted for the course with his approval: George Anthony Albert, Janet R. Cogan, Barbara Anne Colhoun*, Patricia M. Deans, Basil Cairns Dowling, Maxine Dunne, Robert Duthie, Gerda (Gertrud Elisabeth) Eichbaum, Janet Fergus Ferguson, Mary S. Frankish, Evelyn A. Franklin*, Lynette F. Gardiner, Lillian D. Gilmour, Betty Constance Glasson, Lionel Slingsby Hart, Robert Cameron Lamb, Hector Macaskill, Eva Lever-Naylor (Munz), Walter John McEldowney, Joan I. Moreland, Ronald Norris O'Reilly, F. Joan Paul, Elaine M. Richards, John Philip Sage, William Tanzer, Anne Priscilla Taylor *, Shirley D. Thomson, Catherine R. Tibbies, and Ethena Elsie Walker. Students who wished to do paid practice work in December were enabled to broaden their experience in this way before taking up their permanent posts. The number of good positions advertised by libraries throughout the Dominion exceeded the number of Library School graduates. Each of the graduates is now employed in one of the following institutions: National Library Service, General Assembly Library, Prime Minister's Department Library, War Archives, Auckland Public Libraries, Wellington Public Libraries, Otago University Library, Training College Library, Dunedin. Some of the graduates are also being seconded by the National Library Service to the libraries of the Department of Education and of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and to the United States Information Library in Wellington and to the Northern Military District of the Army in Auckland. The geographical distribution of graduates includes Wellington, Auckland, Palmerston North, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Advisory work in smaller public libraries is being done by one graduate sent out from Wellington by the Country Library Service, and books are being lent in the North Island by another graduate who is driving a Country Library Service book-van.

* Recipient of certificate.

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1947 SHORT COURSE A short coarse for librarians of small libraries, held on 13th to 31st January, 1947, was attended by 21 librarians and 1 assistant librarian from the public libraries of Ashburton, Dannevirke, Eketahuna, Fairlie, Huntly, Tnglewood, Invercargill, Kaikohe, Lower Hutt, Morrinsville, Motueka, Onehunga, Otaki, Pahiat.ua, Papatoetoe, Putaruru, Richmond, Tauranga, Te Aroha, Waipukurau, Whangarei, and Woodville. In this short course, emphasis was placed upon community service through books, and question periods were provided for discussion of actual problems arising in the libraries. 1947 PROFESSIONAL COURSE The second professional course opened on. 10th February, 1947, with an enrolment of 25 students who were approved by the Minister of Education and who will study at the school until December. Although the 1947 curriculum follows the basic plan outlined in the annual report of the National Library Service for the year ended 31st March, 1946,* and in New Zealand Libraries for November, 1946 f, each course is revised annually to keep abreast of new books and of the latest professional experience and research in the field of library service. It is pleasant to record the fact that Miss M. Fleming, who was sent by the Government to prepare herself at Columbia University School of Library Service, New York, for teaching in the Library School, has returned as a Senior Lecturer, and that Miss J. Norrie, who was sent by the Red Cross Society of New Zealand to study hospital librarianship at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, will be in charge of a seminar on hospital libraries which will form part of the 1947 professional course. The librarians and other community leaders and the subject specialists who came to, the School as visiting lecturers in 1946 are again giving their co-operation and libraries are again lending generously the books that are needed. The administration of the School, which was described in the 1946 report, remains unchanged. SECTION lII.—NATIONAL LIBRARY CENTRE Report by the Librarian: Mr. A. G-. Bagnall BOOK COVERAGE AND SPECIALIZATION During the year the 1943 Cumulative Book Index was checked against the Union Catalogue. Alternative plans for ensuring that a copy of every worth-while book in English is in the country were drawn up and approved by the Book Resources Committee and Council of the New Zealand Library Association. It was thought that the approach to this problem should be from the date of current issue following the appearance of authoritative reviews and notices. Libraries who now specialize in certain subjects will, as far as possible, share with the National Library Service the work of coverage. The proposals are that the National Library Service should in its normal work of book selection record separately from its orders informational works of specialized interest which it decides would normally be too limited for its own purchase. Such titles would be classified, listed, and issued regularly to the libraries whieh have indicated they are willing to specialize in the various subjects.

* Animal Report of the National Library Serviee for year ended 31st March, 1946, pp. 9-10. t New Zealand libraries 9: 179-184 N'46.

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The library would in due course return the list, having marked the titles which it intended to acquire, while the balance could periodically be considered for purchase under the marginal stock scheme. When in operation this should ensure at once an up-to-date coverage of all works, avoid unnecessary duplication, and ensure that copies are held where they will be of most use. INTER-LIBRARY LOAN During the three years since inter-library loan requests for books and periodicals whose location is unknown have been handled by the National Library Service, the number made available to libraries has steadily increased: 5,684 inter-loan cards were received during the year, compared with 3,029 for 1945-46 and 1,735 for 1944-45. The following table gives an analysis of the requests received for the year ending 31st March, 1947: Number of inter-loan cards received .. .. .. 5,684 Supplied from National Library Service .. .. 2,794 Supplied from other Wellington libraries .. .. 794 Supplied from Union Catalogue records .. .. 358 Supplied from Check-list of Serials .. .. .. 73 Items previously on Book Resources .. .. .. 42 Items held over for further checking . . .. .. 41 Items cancelled by requesting library .. .. .. 10 Rejected as outside scope of inter-loan .. .. 103 Referred back for further information .. .. .. 104 Listed on Book Resources .. .. .. .. 1,365 5,684 Total number of items appearing on Book Resources .. 1,824 Inter-loan requests listed on Book Resources .. .. 1,365 Items referred back and reported missing, later listed on Book Resources .. .. .. .. .. 127 Items requested by Country Library Service .. .. 332 1,824 Items located through Book Resources .. .. .. 619 UNION CATALOGUE Eighteen thousand cards, representing the accessions of the country's major libraries, were added to the Union Catalogue during the year. Discussion oni the future of the Catalogue by members of the New Zealand Library Association has centred on the place of the Catalogue in the regional library system and has stressed the desirability of excluding the holdings of semi-popular general literature if it is practicable to do so. CENTRAL BUREAU FOR LIBRARY BOOK IMPORTS From Ist April, 1946, to 31st March, 1947, 65 recommendations for special licence to the value of £5,645 (New Zealand currency) were made covering books and periodicals. In addition, block licences totalling £19,401 were granted to one special library, four city, and two University libraries.

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A feature of these figures is the marked drop in the number of applications for special licence, which in the previous year totalled 159 to the value of £7,280. The Book Resources Committee of the New Zealand Library Association when reviewing the operation of the Bureau decided that the time was not opportune to recommend any modification in the Bureau procedure; it was also felt that the Bureau could still do a great deal to help small libraries to obtain standard works and bibliographical aids. LIBRARIES OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS During the year a survey was made of the libraries of Government Departments. Over 50 Head Office and Branch libraries, were reported on. Consequential recommendations were discussed by an inter-departmental conference and amended by an inter-departmental committee before submission to the Public Service Commission. It is hoped that the recommendations,, which include central ordering and cataloguing by the National Library Service when in operation, will result in a more developed library service both within the Departments and from the National Library Service to them. BOOK RESOURCES COMMITTEE The Book Resources Committee met on 28th August, 1946, when reports on the above projects were discussed. An interim report from the Librarian, National Centre, outlining a wide range of topics for consideration by the Centre and the Book Resources Committee was also commented upon. Plans for the* central cataloguing of New Zealand material and the issue of printed cards were discussed and approved. Printing difficulties have so far prevented this being carried further, but it has been agreed as an interim measure that printed lists in catalogue card form should be prepared by the National Library Service in conjunction with the General Assembly Library. INDEX TO NEW ZEALAND PERIODICALS In March, 1946, the National Centre agreed to take over the compilation of the Index to New Zeoibamd Periodicals' from the New Zealand Library Association, which body was, however, still to be responsible for publication. It was decided that current publication would be resumed in 1947 and a cumulation from 1941 to 1946 inclusive would be prepared taking the Index beyond its last published section, January to June, 1943. The number of periodicals to be included necessarily had to be curtailed, although the cumulation, now ready for publication, covers thirty titles. The New Zealand Library Association has decided to mimeograph the Index. DONATION OF AMERICAN BOOKS During the year a handsome donation of some 700 books was received from the International Relations Office of the American Library Association,, through the generosity of the Rockefeller Foundation. These books represent a set of outstanding publications of reference and research value published during the years 1939-45 and will form a much appreciated accession to the book resources of the country. The gift emphasizes the indebtedness of the New Zealand library movement to American foundations, which have helped so generously both on this occasion and in the past. Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (793 copies), £24

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington. —1947. Price 6d.]

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