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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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