PUBLIC LIBRARY

Southland Times, Issue 20537, 13 July 1928, Page 4

PUBLIC LIBRARY

ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the annual report of the Invercargill Public Library, as made by the Librarian, Mr H. B. Farnall: — The past year was a very satisfactory one in all sections of the library, considerable progress being made in each department, the figures in the appendices showing an all round increase on previous years. During the year the Juvenile Library was transferred to a large room on the ground floor of the Y.M.C.A. in Tay street. This was found necessary to make room for the boo'ks in the Reference Library, which were very crowded on the shelves round the room and also in three island book stacks in the middle of the room, the old juvenile room was connected up with the Reference Library by opening up an archway between the two rooms, an additional table and eight chairs were also provided for this section. These alterations are greatly appreciated by the frequenters of this room, there being now better facilities for seeing the contents of the Reference Library, as well as more accommodation and better lighting. In addition to the above, the congestion in the storeroom has been relieved by the building in of the staircase at the entrance to the juvenile room, enabling the proper filing of all newspapers and periodicals, so that back files may be referred to with very little delay. STOCK OF BOOKS.

The stock of books has been increased by the addition of 1,872 volumes, making a total of 28,994 volumes, of which 8,896 are contained in the reference and New Zealand collections, and 20,098 in the lending and juvenile libraries. Donations amounted to 93 volumes; 338 volumes were withdrawn for various reasons; 464 volumes were rebound, as well as some thousands of volumes repaired by the staff. In the Lending Department the roll of subscribers shows a total of 1,153, a falling off of 32 on last year, this is easily accounted for by quite a number of subscribers dropping their extra subscriptions, preferring to take out extra books on payment of a small fee; if it were possible to correctly estimate these extra books on the same lines as the roll of subscribers is compiled, the total would be considerably over 2,000. The popularity of the system of reserving and taking out extra books is very noticeable, viz., 27,324 (2,182 reserves and 25,142 extras), as against 24,980 the previous year, an increase of 2,344. The number of volumes issued to subscribers amounted to 103,505, as against 102,434, an increase of 1,071 on last year, 1,119 (classes 417, fiction 702; were added, making a total stock of 17,430 The want of room in this department for additional books is becoming acute, all the possible space available for book stacks has been utilized ,and the time is not far away when the Library Committee will have to go seriously into the matter of providing further accommodation.

The magazine branch of the Lending Department continues to be popular with the subscribers. There are 227 names on the roll; 14,607 magazines were issued during the year. To the juvenile library were added 192 volumes, making a total stock of 2,768; the issues amounted to 15,111 volumes, an increase of 1,984 on the previous year (see appendix D), there are 191 names on the roll. The removal from the main library to the Y.M.C.A. seems to have been quite a popular one among the juvenile readers, as shown by the increase in the number of books issued, and also by the number who use the free reading portion of the library. The annual free scholars' tickets issued at Christmas time were availed of by 28 scholars, representing 14 schools. In the Reference Library 443 volumes were added, making a total stock of 6,313. It is pleasing to again report that this section of the library is increasing in popularity each year, the past year being a particularly noticeable one, especially in the number of requests for assistance in finding the subjects required by both visitors to the room, and also to inquiries over the telephone, showing how the residents and students appreciate the splendid up-to-date collection of works of reference in the collection. The increased accommodation for the Reference Library provided by the removal of the juvenile library has been greatly appreciated by readers who have frequently congratulated me on this very noticeable improvement. One hundred and eighteen volumes were added to the New Zealand collection, of which 36 were donated by the New Zealand Government, making a total stock of 2,583. The collection has been moved into the new portion of the reference library, and is now more conveniently situated for those who wish to examine and consult these books. This section is easily the most popular and •most used in the library, all the latest books published in recent years about New Zealand have been added.

The reading room continues to increase in popularity with both residents and visitors to Invercargill, it is frequently noticed that all the seating accommodation is occupied, while numbers of readers have to remain standing round the room. The monthly tally kept shows that 222,156 adults visited the rooms during the year, a daily average of 612; this is an increase of 808 on the previous year. The supply of papers and periodicals is kept well up-to-date, several new ones having been added. I regret having to report a number of cases of mutilation of papers and periodicals, as well as theft of certain periodicals, in spite of all our efforts to catch these unscrupul ous persons. Once again I have to record a loss of books from the shelves of both the lending and reference libraries. At the annual stock-taking held in September last it was found that a total of 35 books were missing, compared with 47 last year; of these 26 (two class books, 24 fiction) were missing from the lending department, and nine from the reference library. It is to be regretted that these thefts go on year after year, in spite of the vigilance of myself and the staff. I am pleased to report having found three books on the shelves that have been reported missing in previous years, and hope that at the next stocktaking more of these missing books will have been returned. The donations received during the year, 93 volumes, have been recorded in the monthly reports and the donors thanked. Among the most important, received in addition to those from the New Zealand Government, the following are worthy of special mention: —Trustees Reginald Mackinnon Estate, £lO for the purchase of books suitable for farmers; Acclimatization Society, 5 volumes; Dr. Young, 2 volumes; Times Office, 4 volumes Southland Times; News Office, 4 volumes Southland News; M. N. Hyndman, 6 volumes for the juvenile library; from an anonymous donor a copy of “A Return of the Freeholders of New Zealand,” 1882; this latter is a scarce and valuable acquisition to the New Zealand section, which I have been vainly trying to secure for years.