WHAT WE READ.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 117, 19 May 1936, Page 9

WHAT WE READ.

LITERARY LEANINGS. j FIGURES REVEAL TRENDS. REPORT OF LIBRARIAN. When Auckland caps a weary day ■with an hour or so of restful reading, does it sink itself lazily into a thriller or a romance of fiction, or does it dip, bent on culture or adventure in the realms of science and life in general, into more serious writings? It is an important question, for no doubt behind the reading matter of a city lies the culture of that city. Figures alone can give the nearest approach to an accurate answer. The fifty-sixth annual report of the chief librarian, Mr. John Barr, submitted to the Auckland City Council last night, showed that of a total of 819,710 books taken out of the public libraries, 374,019 were fiction, 239,773 general literature and 205,918 juvenile books. It is true that many novels contain a good deal of culture and history as well as mere entertainment value, but| most impressive in itself is the figure of 200,000 odd books of philosophy, religion, sociology, literature, science, useful arts, fine arts, history, travel, biography, music and general literature of an unclassifiahle nature.

"General works, sociology, literature and useful arts are practically equal ■with last year, the only surprise being that sociology continues to hold its own bo strongly, as the interest in this subject was created by the economic crisis which shows signs of passing," wrote Mr. Barr. "The greatest advance is in history, biography and travel, and reflects to a great extent the popular interest in current national affairs and in the lives of the men who are actors in these events. Useful arts and philosophy and religion also show greater use. In the latter subject this may be due to interest in movements such as the Oxford Group. Small decreases are noticeable in. science and music."