PUBLIC LIBRARY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19364, 30 June 1937, Page 3

PUBLIC LIBRARY

DAMAGE TO BOOKS MEMBERSHIP INCREASE 68TH ANNUAL REPORT “II Is noticed that the books returned by post from country subscribers arrive back at the library in very poor condition in many cases, states the sixty-eighth annual report of the Turanganui Public Library to be presented to the meeting of subscribers in the library on Thursday, July 8, “and it is felt that more cooperation on the part of these subscribers in the care of books is needed. “Although special cardboard has been supplied for wrapping purposes, manv have omitted to use it. The rebacking of books in that department is extensively carried out by the stafT.” In connection with the membership, the report stated that the adults numbered 711, compared with 840 adults last year, and it was most gratifying to notice that the steady increase in membership oyer the past three years had been maintained. There were now 190 juvenile members, an increase of 55 over the number last year. The number of books issued for home reading during the year was 79,287, compared with 70,353 for the previous year. Books added to the stock numbered 878 novels and 198 non-fiction works. This year 544 novels, and 53 non-fiction books were withdrawn from the shelves. Thefts of Magazines “Tlte mutilation of books commented on in last year’s report lias ceased, but the theft of magazines from the subscribers’ table is still noticed form time to time," continued the report. “Several new magazines have been added to the stocks, and extra copies of the most popular periodicals arcnow purchased, as a result of a questionnaire conducted for the purpose of ascertaining the relative popularity ol all magazines received. "The reference department has received little attention from the public this year. The dictionaries, and books from the New Zealand collection have been used the most often, but the agricultural and business sections have been almost ignored, although they botli contain up-to-date works of general interest. Sixty works were added during the year. “The juvenile department has made rapid progress, the issues being 8845 books. The reference bqoks provided here are used fairly consistently, and the magazines are always very popular. The department was catalogued this year, and is now operated along similar lines to those used for the circulating department. School Libraries “During the year, negotiations with the Primary Schools Committees’ Association and the Headmasters’ Association for the co-ordination of school libraries, using the public library as a headquarters, were completed. The library funds of the five primary schools in the borough were pooled, and subsidised by the library. Each school contributed £5, and the library subsidised-this sum £1 for £l. The first instalment of the books came to hand early this year. Records of the books bifid by each school arc to bo kept am the library, the books being interchangable, and transported to and from the schools in specially constructed boxes. "The books, selected by the librarian as being suited to the children in the middle standards, are all attractively bound in leather, and should last some considerable time. It is hoped that this scheme will be the means of promoting a love of, and demand for books among the younger children. New Zealand Conference “The library sent three representatives to Hie Now Zealand Library Association Conference held at Wellington in February. Two remits moved by Dr. A. 1.. Singer were discussed aiid carried. The first recommended that members of public libraries visiting other towns be afiorded the privileges of membership to the library of the town visited. The second was a recommendation to the council to inquire into the matter of taxes in connection with public libraries. Dr. Singer was elected one of the incoming vice-presidents of the association. "Many visitors to the town have expressed their approval and appreciation of the general lay-out, bookselection, and up-to-date atmosphere of the library. ‘As a result of the recently conducted stocktaking, the* following figures are available: —Books in circulating department, 3973 fiction; 3032 non-fiction; reference department, 828; juvenile department, 880; total, 8293. “Thirty-two books were missing from the non-fiction section of the circulating department. This is over a period of nearly two years. There were eight reference books missing, and five non-fiction books from the Juvenile Department. "Our thanks are also due to the Poverty Bay Herald for publishing reports, booic-lists, and other items of interest regarding the library, to the proprietor of radio station 2ZJ, as well as to all those who have generously donated books, periodicals, and newspapers during the year, and to those who have assisted the library in other directions. “The substantial increase in membership and book issues has resulted in a busy year for the staff, and the committee would like to place on record its appreciation of the manner in which the librarian and her assistants have carried out their duties during the year."