LIBRARY LEAGUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22995, 24 March 1938, Page 3

LIBRARY LEAGUE

ANNUAL MEETING HELD IMPROVEMENT IN FINANCES WIDE DISTRIBUTION OF BOOKS A note of optimism for future activities, and of gratification for the past year's work, was struck at the annual meeting of the Mayoress' War Memorial Library League held in the Town Hall committee room last night. The Mayoress, Lady Davis, presided, and was presented with a bouquet of roses. A similar bouquet was presented to the honorary secretary and treasurer, Mrs. E. McNair,

"We started the year under great difficulties with 110 rooms and the finances in a very low state." said Mrs. McNair in presenting her annual report. "The problem of the room was, however, solved when the City Council allowed us the use of the 'book room in the Town Hall. The league's financial position has also improved greatly. The difficulties which at the beginning of 193? seemed insuperable have disappeared, and we look forward to the future hopefully. We have a fair amount of literature in hand, which is a happy augury for the success of the coming year's work." Credit Balance The financial statement showed a credit balance of £69, compared with £5 for the previous, year. The receipts included £4l obtained as the result of three special functions held to augment the league funds, and interest and dividends amounting to £lO.

In congratulating the members on the year's work Lady Davis referred specially to the excellent financial balance. The fact that no salary had had to be paid contributed largely to the increased balance, while the special effort of members was another factor.

The "reports of the various subcommittees were presented by the conveners. Mrs. E. A. Arroll, for the Tasman Club, stating that the "special request" section had been very busy

sending out on loan books to adults and children. The greatest difficulty encountered was in fulfilling the demands for certain books. In all, 1207 books had been asked for, 355 had been received by applicants, but 852 requests had remained unfulfilled owing to shortage of the books required. Reports of the numbers of books and other literature sent out to camps, schools, backblock settlers, lighthouses, Nine Island residents and schoolchildren, homes and institutions by the various sub-committees were as follows: —St. John Ambulance: 260 parcels containing 676 books; 1222 magazines; 760 illustrated papers; 156 Christmas cards and calendars; 118 toys. Women's Christian Temperance Union: 680 books; 1680 magazines. Flying Angel Missions to Seamen: 432 books; 2676 magazines and papers; 40 Christmas cards and calendars; 24 scrap books and toys; 77 parcels. Auckland Grammar, School old girls' committee: 128 books; 116 scrap books, calendars and Christmas cards. Philanthropic committee: 567 books; 832 magazines; nine packs playing cards and quantities of illustrated papers, calendars and Christmas cards. Query club: Books, toys, coloured scraps and sewing materials to Nine Island, and, in response to a special appeal. 20 Bibles and Testaments, 20 hymn books and 24 school books. St. Cuthbcrt's Old Girls' Association: To relief camps, 200 books and 229 magazines; to schools, 320 school books and 529 story books. Christmas Cards

In a report on the work of the Christmas card section it was stated that 876 cards were prepared for distribution at Christmas, each one being personally signed by the president, Lady Davis. Five hundreds cards for the patients at the Auckland Infirmary were left with the matron for distribution on Christmas Day and the remainder of the cards were included in parcels sent to the backblocks. A number of returned soldiers had been visited at the Auckland Prison, when ouch rocoivocl n calendar from tliG league and a special gift of tobacco and sweets from Lady Davis. At the conclusion of the meeting, songs were sung by Mrs. Reginald Humphries and Mrs. Thomas, and recitations given by Mrs. J. Pool. The accompanist was Miss I. M. Underwood. Supper was served before the meeting ended.