WHAT THE PEOPLE READ.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18292, 8 January 1923, Page 6

WHAT THE PEOPLE READ.

LIBRARY STATISTICS. POPULARITY OF FICTION. Statistics for the past yea?;, supplied by the chief librarian, show that the Auckland public libraries are steadily increasing in popularity, and are being used more and more by citizens as a source of diversion and instruction. Substantial increases over tbe figures for 1921, are shown in the number of books consulted in the reference department of the central library, and also 'in those taken out from the lending department. The total number of volumes circulated from the lending department of the central | and branch libraries during 1922 was 309,082, an increase of 4390 over the : previous year's 'figures. As usuul, fiction beads the list in this department, no ; fewer than 202.042 btJbks of this _ class having been :on loan to subscribers. General works, including magazines, come; next in popularity, the number of these volumes on hire being 51,626. Books of history and biography, although showing a falling off as compared with 1921, were still in strong demand, while travel books again ranked high in the list. There was an increase of nearly 2000 in the issue of books from the juvenile department. Works relating to philosophy, religion and sociology were not quite so much sought after as during the previous year. The range of preference among subscribers is shown in the following table of figures for the past two years: — 1922. IC2I. General Works .... 51,520 51.193 Philosophy, and Religion .. . 1,720 1,977 Sociology .. '.. .'j'v • 1,655 ,■ 1,838 Language and Literature'. . 5,455 5,443 Fiction . . .... 202.012 193.091 Science .. .. .. .. 1.172 1,131 Useful Arts . . . . . . : 1.486 1,525 Fine Arts . . .. " . . 1.812 1,550 History and Biography . . 8,820 10.344 T'iivel 6,525 0,920 Juvenile Literature. , . . 20,783 24.971 Totals __ . . . . . - 309,082 . 304,092 The number of volumes consulted in the reference department of the central library during the year was 4091 in excess of the figures for 1921. the total in 1922 being i 10,155. The books most in demand were those dealing with the useful arts', language and literature. In the commercial section, an increase of nearly 1000 was recorded, the number of books consulted being 10,7.19. A survey of the figures for fiction, periodicals, etc.. gives the impression that Aucklanders do most of their light reading in their own homes, this class of literature coming lowest on the list, whereas.; in the lending department is stands at the top. There was a decrease of neatly 5000 in fiction as compared with 1921. Decreases 4 are also recorded in sociology, history and biography, and travel. The following are the complete figures for 1922 and 1921: — - , 1922. 1921. General Works . , ...'.' 4,372 3,574 Philosophy and Religion . . 9.059 B.OSa Sociology 7.671 7,974 Language and Literature . . 14,431. 13.723 Fiction • 5 - 195 5,014 Science .. 9.509 8.872 Useful Arts 21.022. 19.908 Fine Arts 9.693 9,203 History and Biography . . 10.950 11.119 Travel 7.134 7.930 Commercial .;. . . . . • 10.719 9.995 Totals 110,155, 106,004 In addition to the municipal libraries there are other .public and private librai ries, but the figures quoted are indicative j of the general ' interests of readers.