THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20829, 12 April 1933, Page 16

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

NOTES FOR MONTH OF MARCH. The librarian, Mr Ernest J. Bell, supplies the following notes on activities at the Canterbury Public Library during March:With the approacn of the ciariter evenings there has } oen in reading, more than 17,000 books having been issued during the last month. This is slightly less than the number issued during March of last year, Easter being included m that period and some busy days experienced. It was pleasing to find that 138 new members were enrolled and that the membership is steadily increasing Nearly 200 new books were received, several being important works of non-fiction. The reference library experienced a busy month and nearly 14,000 books were consulted, this betng an increase of 4000 compared with those made use of during March last year. Books added to the shelves in this department numbered 38. It is to be regretted that several volumes have been removed from the shelves by unauthorised persons. The crossword puzzle competitions are probably responsible for this, and it has been necessary to remove valuable dictionaries and other volumes in order to prevent damage or theft of same. The children's library also experi•enced a busy period and nearly 4000 books were issued for home reading, a decrease of 127 only compared with March of 1932. New books added to the juvenile library numbered 42.