THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2143, 28 December 1920, Page 20 (Supplement)

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

A SUCCESSFUL TEAS. The librarian at the Canterbury Public Library reports that the yew just closing has been a most successful one in all departments of the dudHo library. The'merabers of the staff have endeavoured to make the institution popular, and it is pleasing to find how well the public using the library hay* appreciated their efforts. During the last four years the number of books issued out for home reading has steadily* increased, as the following table will show:— 1917 114,570 19J8 118.M* • J919 168,152 1920 .. 178,000 There has .been some splendid daily issues of books, the record being reached on April 1, when 1178 volume* went out, and again on August 14, when 1038 volumes were is~.ed. Accessions to the lending library during the year numbered 1600 volumes, and about 400f subscribers' tickets were issued, thif being an increase of t bout 600 on th» total subscribers registered during In the reference library there hat been a large increase in the number of books consulted. The following table shows the number of books used during the past four yean:— ' . 1917 .. ..„ .. x .. 22.683 1818 !. 25.534 1019 .. ..' .. .. 87,881 1920 .. Vjfifo There have been added to the reference library stock about 500 volume*, and of these about 150 have been presented. • v The attendance in the juvenile library has continued very good throughout the year. About 20,000 volumes have beei issued out for horn* rreading, and about 400 volumes added to the stock. Ten travelling libraries have been established during the year, so thai there are about 400 good volumes circulating amongst readers in the 'country districts of Canterbury, The total stock in all departments a* the public library now exceeds 40,000 volumes.