H.—32

1920. NEW ZEALAND.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY (REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1919-20).

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 1919—20: — 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 three meetings during the recess. Lists of bonks suggested for order by the Chief Librarian were brought before the Committee and duly considered. Additions to the Library. The Accessions Register shows that during the period 20th June, 1919, to Ist August, 1920. the number of catalogued accessions was 2,772, which is slightly in excess of the number registered during the same period in L 918—19. 'flic Imperial Government has not yet fully resumed the supply of official publications, but the American official exchanges are now arriving with pre-war regularity, and next year's report should show a substantial increase in the number of accessions. The total number of catalogued items as shown by the Accessions Register on the Ist August, 192(1. was 99,675. As was to be expected, the importance of so many of the war problems is prominently reflected in the Sociology Section, in which will be found a large number of specially interesting and valuable works. The paper shortage and the greatly increased cost of production have had the effect of limiting the number of new works issued by Both the English and the American publishers. Mane important works are, it is understood, held over for a time. The Staff. There have been no changes in the staff arrangements during the year. Air. McColl was unfortunately compelled to go into the Treutham military hospital for some weeks owing to an old wound trouble, but has now returned to his duties. Annual Stock-taking. The stock-taking this year was confined to Class 300, the largest class in the Library, comprising as it does works on political science, law, and constitutional history, education, public health, and sociology generally. The last stock-taking in this class was in 1914, when fifty-six volumes were reported missing. The total number of books checked during the recent stock-taking was 11,244, and the total number of missing volumes is reported as being 10. This shows that a large proportion of the volumes reported missing in 1914 have been recovered; and when it is considered that since the previous stock-taking some 1,500 volumes have been added to the Library in this particular class, the result of this year's stock-taking must. I think, be deemed very satisfactory. Books for the Islands Trip. At the request of the Hon. Sir James Allen, X.C.8., M.P. (Minister of Defence), and with the approval of the Hon. Sir William Hall-Jones. K.C.M.G., M.L.C. (Chairman of the Recess Library Committee), a collection of books dealing with the history, ethnology, and sociology of the South Seas was placed on board the s.s. " Mokoia " for the use of members of the parliamentary party. Some five hundred volumes (including a supply of fiction) formed the " Mokoia's " library, which was placed under the superintendence of the Chief Librarian. The books proved of great use to members making the trip, the works dealing with the various islands visited being in special and frequent request. 1 am glad to be able to report that at the close of the trip only one volume, a novel of no great value, was found to have been lost.