MEMBERSHIP OF LIBRARIES

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29153, 14 March 1960, Page 8

MEMBERSHIP OF LIBRARIES

Big Increase Shown In Census (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 11. Betweefh IBM and 1959, there was an increase of 43 per cent, in public library membership and an increase of 36.2 per cent in book circulation, says the Government Statistician in announcing the publication of the report “Census of Libraries, 1959." During the five-year period, book stocks rose by only 15.8 per cent, indicating, says the report, that greater use is being made of books available. There were 242,043 adult members of public libraries in IBM. but the number had risen to 328,678 at March 31. 1959. Children increased their membership from 92,862 to 163,019, but the increase in junior members is not unexpected In view of the high birthrate in the years after World War 11. Members read 29 library books a year. On average, about fourfifths were fiction. An international table In - the report indicates that New Zealand compares favourably in the number of public libraries and size of book stocks. • But New Zealanders are not such avid readers as people in the United Kingdom. There is no national library in New Zealand, but the three libraries listed as national libraries, the Genet al Assembly Library, the ’Alexander Turnbull Library and the National Library Service, perform most of the functions of a national library. In 1959, the General Assembly Library, oldest of the three, had a stock of approximately 322,000 volumes, the Alexander Turnbull Library about 99,000 volumes and the National Library Service, apart from the schools division, almost 670,000.