Library Popular.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 735, 12 April 1933, Page 8

Library Popular.

Reading Habits

Increase in Membership During March. MR E. J. BELL, of the Canterbury Public Library, reports that with the approach of the darker evenings there habeen an increase in reading, over 17,000 books having been issued during the past month. This is slightly less than the number issued during March of last year* Easter being included in that period, and some busy days experienced. H pleasing to find that 138 new members were enrolled and that the membership is steadily increasing. Nearly 200 new books were received, several of them important works of non-fiction. The reference library experienced a busy month and nearly 14,000 books were consulted, this being an increase of 4000 compared with those made use of during March last year. Books added to the shelves in this department numbered 38. It is to be regretted that several volumes have been removed from the shelves by unauthorised persons. The crossword puzzle competitions are probably responsible for this, and it has been necessary to remove valuable dictionaries and other volumes in order to prevent damage or theft. The children's library also experienced a busy period and nearly 4000 books were issued for home reading, a decrease of only 127 compared with March of 1932. New books added to the juvenile library numbered 42.