H—32a

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 One hundred and eighty-four special collections, consisting of 7,484 books and 580 periodicals and pamphlets, were issued to libraries for periods of two months. The previous year 97 such collections, totalling 3,508 books, had been issued. The most popular subject was again gardening, and 22 collections on this subject were sent out during the year. Among the other subjects in demand were hobbies and crafts ; education ; other countries ; music ; homecraft; New Zealand ; art; child care ; sports and pastimes, &c. Loan collections were issued to 42 libraries linked with this Service, and 9 collections were sent to teachers' training colleges and to public libraries outside the Service who required them for special purposes. PERIODICALS SERVICE A total of 380 periodicals is now taken by this Service. One hundred and eleven periodicals have been sent out regularly to 46 free participating public libraries. Each library received up to 31 periodicals chosen from the list in lots of some five to nine, sending the periodicals on to another library at the end of each month. WORK WITH CHILDREN Report op the School Library Service Book orders from overseas are now coming to hand more regularly, and the total stock now stands at 124,782 books (40,183 non-fiction and 84,599 fiction), compared with 92,994 a year ago. In addition, 9,390 books from the Otago Education Board's collection now becomes part of the School Library Service stock. All approved lists of children's books have now been checked, and titles more suitable for children in New Zealand have been ordered. Book ordering is now a matter of duplication and replacement, with the monthly addition of newer approved titles. A large number of titles are still, however, out of print. At present there are 24 geographical districts receiving exchanges from 9 distributing centres. The Auckland office of the Country Library Service makes exchanges to 8 of these geographical centres, the Palmerston North office to 4, the Christchurch office to 3, the Nelson office to 1, and Headquarters in Wellington to 4. The Greymouth, Timaru, Wanganui, and Dunedin Public Libraries act as exchange centres in their respective districts. In the case of Grreymouth, Wanganui, and Dunedin Public Libraries, a member of the Country Library Service staff has been seconded to each of these libraries to carry out exchange work. Schools in the Taranaki Education Board's area are now eligible to receive books from this Service. Applications are coming to hand, and 8 schools to date are receiving service. Formerly the Taranaki Education Board maintained its own scheme, but early in 1945 this was discontinued. In November, 1945, the Otago Education Board's scheme was amalgamated with this Service, the Dunedin Public Library continuing to act as distributing centre. This means maintaining the service to the 162 schools and 9,619 children in this area. The Otago Board and the Dunedin Public Library have developed an outstanding service to schools, which will be maintained and increased as opportunity permits, in co-operation with the Dunedin Public Library. The number of schools which qualified for free service to 31st March, 1946, is 648. This means that these schools have " paid the required levy for two complete and consecutive years and have carried out all other conditions of the School Library Service which apply to it." Also, in the Otago area, 130 entitled to receive free service. It is planned to give a reference and request service to the schools belonging to the School Library Service, to meet the demands for subject material in connection with

4