Substantial Progress Of City Library

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 100, 29 April 1941, Page 10

Substantial Progress Of City Library

FICTION SECTION ON PROFIT-MAKING BASIS “The library has continued to make substantial progress during tho year in all departments,” stated tho city 1 librarian (Mr. H. Greenwood) in Jiis annual report, tabled at last night’s meeting of the Palmerston North City Council. At tho beginning of the year the total membership was 7140 and the iyear ended with a total of 9699, an m|crease of 2559. The book issues for tho Iyear were 321,432, an increase of 62,746 over the previous year. “On account of tho war and the restriction in the shipping services, book orders to England are taking much longer in execution than in normal times. Some shipments have been lost, but most of our orders have been supplied. •‘ln the senior department the opportunity was taken during the year of overhauling the fiction section, and withdrawing a large number of old aud wornout books. The additions in this section comprised works by standard authors, and although this class is now smaller by about 1000 volumes the book issues show an increase of 5000 aboco the previous year. In tho non-fiction sections the total increase for the year was 3216. “In the junior department there was a net increase of 579 members during the year, making the total membership on March 31 2582. In all, 58,03 S books (of which 10,441 were works of nonfiction) were issued during the year, as against 41,506 for the previous year, an increase of 16,532. “The rental department, which consists entirely of fiction, was opened at the end of December, 1938. The purpose of this department was to meet the very strong competition which had arisen from the establishment and rapid growth in the Dominion of commercial book clubs, which had materially affected the membership of the library. The progress mado and the success attained by the venture has proved conclusively that a public library, governed by a local body, can meet adequately the requirements of the reading public who desire literature of a recreational nature. The membership of this department has shown a very steady and progressive growth in numbers since it was opened. At the beginning of this financial year it was 2981 and has since increased by 961, making a total of 3942, while the number of books issued during the past year was 154,493 as against 122,414 for the previous year, an increase of 32,079. “The success of the Tental department has placed the fiction section on a profit-making basis and has enabled tho free department to spend its book allocation on a good class of general literature. While a large number of members ; read and enjoy a good romance, detective story or thriller, the growing proportion of readers who desire the more literary type of novel has been well catered for. The largest number of books issued on any one day was 1119, and the highest number for a Saturday morning (when the Book Club is opened for only two hours) was 416.” The congratulations of the council wero extended to the librarian on the result of tho past year’s operations.