LIBRARY LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVXIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1937, Page 13

LIBRARY LEAGUE.

A YEAR OF PROGRESS.

THE SECRETARY RETIRES

The seventeenth annual meeting of the Mayoress' War Memorial Library League was held yesterday afternoon in the committee rooms of the Town Hall. The Mayoress. Mrs. Ernest Davis, presided, and opened the meeting by expressing her regrets on the retirement of Miss A\ice Basten, honorary secretary and foundation organiser of the league, and of Miss B. Wickins, the assistant secretary. Miss. Basten was presented with a silver tray, suitably inscribed, in recognition of the valuable work she had done for the league during the past 17 years. Miss Basten also received a bouquet of mixed summer flowers, including tuberoses, cyclamen and carnations.

The retiring assistant secretary. Miss B. Wick ins. was presented with a bouquet of autumn tinted marigolds.

In herVannnal report. Miss Hasten said that the business of the league was about the same as last year, with the exception that they were left with a heavier stock than previously. This was due tp the splendid work of the commercial travellers and their welcome contributions. The year through which the leap Uo had passed, said Miss Hasten, had been a crucial one. Owing to tire regulations the league was faced with the necessity of acquiring new headquarters. A letter had been received from the City Council expressing its appreciation of the-league's good work.

In her presidential address Mrs. Davis congratulated- the league on its excellent work, and expressed the hope that the coming year would be equally successful. She had received many letters which showed the necessity for assistance in the back blocks and the various institutions that the league was endeavouring to help. Especially among the baekblock dwellers was the benefit of the league's work to be seen.

Under the convenership of Miss Wickins, the special request section had worked hard in obtaining the books required. Among the books most, frequently demanded were: Grimm's 'Tairy Tales," Toltstoy's "Anna Karenina," Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" and ' : Deeds That Won.the Empire." Reports of the other sub-committees were read, all of which had accomplished a successful year's work. The committees represented were as follows: St. John Ambulance. Mrs. A. Phillips ; Mission to Seamen. Mrs. Preston Chambers; philanthropic. Mrs. E. McXair; school committee. Miss B. Wickins; Grammar Old Girls, Mrs. Xicholson; and Query Club, Miss E. Weston.

The total output of literature during the year was as follows: Hard bound books, 4718; magazines, 10,305; children's books, 905; school books, 224; scrapbooks, 355;. illustrated papers, 8000; calendars, 328; Christmas cards, 809; and playing cards, 21 packs. A large case including toys, ecrapbooks and books, together with 50 Bibles was sent this year to Niue Island,

During the meeting, member* itoed in silence as a mark of respect the memory of Mrs. A. Hall, Mr. G. Pilkington and Mr. Preston Chambers.