READING IN AUCKLAND

Southland Times, Issue 20487, 15 May 1928, Page 14

READING IN AUCKLAND

A RECORD ESTABLISHED. UNPOPULARITY OF LECTURES. A surprising increase of nearly 10 per cent, in the attendances at the city’s public libraries for the fiscal year ended March 31, compared with the 1926-27 period, was revealed in the forty-ninth annual report of the Auckland- Public Library presented to the City Council reports the N. Z. Herald . The attendances at all the*libraries, exclusive of the lending departments, totalled 658,760, an increase of 62,840. Mr J. Barr, city librarian, said the increase was surprising in view of the unusual meteorological conditions experienced during the 12 months, the first part being marked by constant and,heavy rains, while the second half would long be remembered for its fine weather. Abnormal rain and sunshine might both be responsible for the decrease in the children’s sections of the libraries. The number of volumes consulted in the reference departments of the Central Library and the Leys Institute totalled 135,127, compared with 130,043 in the previous year, an increase of 5084. The issues of the lending department aggregated 562,966 volumes, an increase of 26,564. The combined totals constituted a record, representing the average daily issue of 2009 volumes. During the school year 25 schools were supplied with 71,746 books under the system of public library and public school cooperation. Patronage of the courses of lectures and entertainments at Epsom, Grafton, Grey Lynn, Parnell, and Remuera libraries was again disappointing. It was doubtful whether the results justified the continuation of this activity. Even the concerts and entertainments could not be described as wanted, so meagre had been the attendance. Financially, there had been a deficit of £9l. The art gallery had been visited during the year by 97,093 persons, a daily average attendance of 267, and the Old Colonists’ Museum by 24,953, a daily average of 69. The report was adopted without comment.