FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 16

FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the second annual report by Mr W. B. M'Ewan, librarian of the Carnegie Public Library, for the year ended March 31 last: — It is gratifying to have to report that the year has been a most successful one, the publio appreciation of the work done being evidenced >n their regular and increasing attendance, and in the demands made on the reference library. The most prominent features of the year were the classifying and cataloguing of the books for the reference department, as it gave me the opportunity of initiating the staff to the practical side of library work, and I have to thank them for the extra work done at that time. The reference library was opened to the publio on November 22. At the date of opening the department contained 2698 volumes, to which 710 volumes have since been added, making a total of 3408 volumes. Special and careful attention i 6 being paid to the selection of books for this department, end the various sections are well represented. The Dewey system has been adopted in the classification of the books, which system may be briafly described as having for its object the bringing together of all books on one subject, end enabling the student to ascertain withr ut delay what books are available. The card system of cataloguing is beinjr used, am it is my intention as soon as it is possible to have ar author catalogue prepared for the use of the public. The public have free access to the books —a privilege which is being much appreciated by our regular readers. The attendance in this department has been very satisfactory, and I anticipate there wili be an increase in the number of readers when the books are better known. I think I may in all confidence say that the reference library has made a good beginning on its career of usefulness. This is the first complete year of the working of the newspaper and magazine rooms, and the result may be regarded as eminently successful. During the year the list of newspapers and magazines was carefully revised and several important technical magazines and periodicals were added, and I am pleased to report they are being used to an" extent to warrant the continuance of these magazines. All the important daily papers published in the Dominion are regularly received, and the Australian dailies and weeklies, together with the papers from the United Kingdom, are much in demand. The Australian illustrated weeklie? av» very popular, and the papers which are received from Fiji, Japan, India, Africa, and Canada are well read. As compared with the few months under review in my first annual report, the attendance has more than doubled, and the accommodation in the magazine room has od many occasions been taxed to its utmost. I am convinced from the experience of the past 12 months that some further provision will have to be made for our lady patrons, and I would suggest that this matter receive the attention of ihe committee early in the ensuing year. The children's reading room was formally opened to the public on Saturday, March 12, 1910. It is premature to form any definite opinion regarding it, but I may say it is being well patronised. .A large number of books were donated by the Public Library Association, and many other donations have been received. The total stock at opening numbered 1430 volumes. At a meeting of the City Council, held on the 11th August, 1909, it was decided to accept the offer of the Caversham Library Committee to transfer its books to the Public Library, and at the same meeting ; t was resolved to establish a tree lending department, The Caversham Library contains over 3000 volumes of wellselected books, suitable for the purposes of a. lending library, and they aro a welcome addition to the books already purchased for this department. I have further prepared a. list of books, which is now beini' considered by the Books Committee. I am of the opinion that from 8000 to 10,000 volumes should be available before this department is opened to the public, and anticipate it will take the staff fully 12 months to make the necessary preparations. It is my intention to adopt the " Safeguard Open Access" ' system, borrowers ht-ing required to enter through a wicket beforo they have access to the books, where, their selection being made, they have the book registered, and then make their exit by means of another wicket. They thus pass the, library assistant singly, thrt wicket being controlled by the assistant It is also my intention to adopt a care system for the purpose of recording the books borrowed. The by-laws are now before the City Council for its approval. The leading directories for the various parts of New Zealand and the Australian Commonwealth, as well as the more important Year-books, are placed on a table in the hall, and this continues to be one of the busiest parts of the library, the accommodation for writing, end the pens and ink provided, being much appreciated. After the. opening of the library the ventilation of the magazine room and the reference library was found to be defective,- and, ait my suggestion, Mr Gough, the city building inspector, submitted a report thereon. His recommendations were in the main carried out, with the result that the atmosphere in the magazine room is much improved, but the reference library still requires attention—a matter which is now before the committee. The publications of the Governments of the States of the Commonwealth, Canada, the United States of America, and the publications of the various departments of the New Zealand Government a,re regularly received. Handsomely framed 1 portraits of Frank Bullen and Charles Dickens were presented and hung at the entrance to the news room. The eiu-vey map of Dunedin and suburbs, maps of the islands of New Zealand and Great Britain, and a hand-somely-framed picture of Caroline Bay, Timaru, have been hung in the reference department. In addition to these, a large number of volumes have been presented by private donors. In each case the donors have been officially thanked. I have also to report that a number of publishers supply their newspapers to the library free of oost. , I wish to place on record that the behaviour of the public generally has been all that could be desired, the by-law 6 having been loyally observed. There is one matter, however, to -which I wish to direct atbention: During the year several news-; papers and magazines have been removed j from the tables. From the class of maga- ; zine taken it ia being done by persons who '.

ought to know better, and this class of theft can . only be characterised as of a mean and -despicable nature. I can only add that the offender®, if caught, should be severely dealt with, without respect of persons. In conclusion, I desire to express my, thanks to Messrs J. Braithwaite and Son, Messrs R. J. Stark and Co. for their careful attention and promptness in executing the orders which have been placed with them, and to the members of the committee who have ungrudgingly given of! their time in the interests of the library, and. for the loyal support extended by the staff in general.