H—32a

The very great assistance given by overseas agencies of the New Zealand Government in securing publications for the Service is acknowledged. In addition to the stock mentioned above, 8,857 books were purchased during the year for extended loan to A.E.W.S. Library. Since February, 1943, 72,613 books have been provided in this way. Figures giving the number of books purchased overseas for the use of E.R.S., 2nd N.Z.E.F., are not available, but expenditure is included in the amounts given below under the heading " Expenditure." EXPENDITURE Expenditure under Subdivision XIV, vote, " Department of Education," for the year was £41,462. Expenditure for books for the children's section is not available, but forms the larger portion of the item, " School and Class Libraries " (on Subdivision II of the same vote), which amounted to £27,783. For the Armed Forces, £28,450 was expended from War Expenses Account for the purchase of books and periodicals. The greater part of this was for the publications sent direct from overseas sources to E.R.S., 2nd N.Z.E.F., in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT During the year the Christchurch office of the Country Library Service moved to premises which were specially designed for library service, consisting of 5,000 square feet on one floor of a large building in the centre of the city. The whole of the distribution work for the South Island has now been taken over by the Christchurch office with the exception of the Otago Education Board District's School Library Service, and distribution centres from Greymouth Public Library and Nelson Country Library Service. Accommodation has been sought without success in Auckland to enable further decentralization to be organized there, while plans are being prepared for carrying out the work of the southern half of the North Island from Palmerston North. Pressure on space at Wellington is most severe and working conditions are not satisfactory. An additional fitted book-van was placed in service during the year. It embodies improvements in design which the experience of the past years had shown to be desirable. It is hoped to have five book-vans in service in a year's time, three in the North Island and two in the South. STAFF The staff of the Service is now 79, including eight approved vacancies for. which suitable appointees are not available at present. The Country Library Service will need more staff in its programme of decentralization and regional development, while the National Library Centre is not yet staffed. The new scales of salaries now approved for trained librarians in the Service as a result of the findings of the Consultative Committee on Salaries in the Public Service will provide adequate salaries to qualified professional workers. They will go far towards placing the library profession in a reasonable position compared with other workers in the field of education. During the year Miss E. J. Carnell, Assistant Director, Country Library Service, resigned on completing her mission in England, where she had undertaken successfully the purchase of publications for A.E.W.S. Miss Carnell's contribution to New Zealand library development has been an outstanding one, and her departure is a loss to the Service. Cabinet approved in August, 1945, of the granting of a Library Fellowship in the United States of America to be available for a graduate of the Public Service, the selected person to be available on return to teach in the Library School. Miss M. S. Fleming, M.A., was the successful applicant, and began her studies at Columbia University School of Librarianship in October, 1945. The work of the staff during the year has been excellent, and acknowledgment is due to them for their loyalty and co-operation.

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