MORE READING

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1931, Page 8

MORE READING

LIBRARY FIGURES

ISSUES STILL CLIMBING

At a time when most returns are showing up badly in comparison with those of a year ago, and at best are standing still, it is a change to find a table showing quite sizeable all round increases, like that given for the issues and cash received for the city and branch libraries for the six months ended 30th September. Compared with the same period of 1930, increases are shown for every library except Newtown, where there i 3 a slight decrease, both in books issued and cash received, in subscriptions, for tho most part. The figures for the five libraries, with the cash received shown below the issues, are as follows: — 1931. 1930. Central 140,213 118,021 £1182 2 11 £1076 6 9 Xmvtown 62,717 62,703 £438 8 7 , £400 16 G Brooklyn, 12,529 10,831 £74 4 3 £71 1G 0 Karori 18.820 14.740 £114 12 1 £00 2 4 Ngaio 11,189 7.859 £80 11 S £72 1 9 Totals 243.4GG 215,153 £1880 19 0 £1741 3 4 The increase in issues, including all sections, juvenilo as well as adult, was 28,313 for the six months, and the in-ci-ease in subscription revenue £148 16s 2d. The Central, Karon, and Ngaio libraries show the greatest proportionate iucreases, with Brooklyn also well up, and tho falling away of tho Newtown returns alone is not easily accounted for, particularly as at this branch the issues of children's books might be expeetod to lift the total high, for the juvenile room there is highly popular with the youngsters.

There is no question that tltg widen-, ing of the scope of books in the lending rooms, by the addition of many more books of general, non-fiction nature has attracted many more subscribers, while tho reduction in the fee (when two or more books are taken out) has led to more reading, while both factors have had the effect of strengthening library finance.