GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1915-16.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1916 Session I, H-32

H.—32,

1916. NEW ZEALAND.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1915-16.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

The Chief Libkahlan to the Chairman of the Joint Library Committee. Bra,— I have the honour to submit the following report for the year 1915-16:— Recess Library Committee. The Recess Library Committee, under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Sir William Hall-Jones, K.C.M.G., M.L.C., held three meetings during the recess. Lists of books suggested for order were brought before the Committee by the Chief Librarian and duly considered. Recess Privileges. The number of permits issued to non-members during the recess was 363, as against 434 in 1914-15, the number of volumes lent to ordinary recess-privilege holders being 3,591. As usual, no fiction was issued save to persons on the full-privilege list (members of the Governor's staff, the Judges, and the officers of the House). The books lent have been, as a rule, very well treated by the borrowers. Additions to Library. The Accession List for the year 1915-16 has not yet been issued, its printing ha.ving been postponed until certain books ordered from London which had been delayed had arrived. These are now here, and I hope to have the list ready for issue to members early in July. Between the 3rd May, 1915, and the 31st May, 1916, the number of catalogued accessions was 3,757. The total would have been much higher but for the delay in the arrival of certain cases from London. Owing to the war the publication of many important works has been postponed, but, this fact notwithstanding, the Accession List this year will be found to contain a large number of interesting and valuable items. The Staff. Mr. P. 11. McColl, one of the Library assistants, enlisted in the month of February last, being now a member of the 14th Reinforcements. His place in the Library has been filled temporarily by Mr. H. J. Millan, formerly acting as the Library messenger. Mr. Millan's place has been taken by Mr. W. F. Johnson, an experienced member of the House messengers staff. Both officers are giving full satisfaction in the discharge of their duties. Stock-taking. The stock-taking has been continued on the system outlined by me in my report of 1913, under which stock-taking proceeds each recess, different classes being dealt with each year. This year classes 100, 200, 400, and 500 were overhauled. The result is as follows : — Missing at Stock-taking. 1913. 1916. Class 100 ... ... .. ... ... 14 Nil. Class 200 ... ... ... ... ... 18 1 Class 400 .. ... ... ... ... 8 4 Class 500 ... ... ... .... ... 18 12 Totals . . ... ... ... 50 17 The above figures show that whereas fifty volumes were missing in these four classes in 1913, only seventeen volumes are unaccounted for in 1916, thus showing that in the intervening period thirtythree volumes have been recovered. The result is even better than the figures indicate, as a considerable number of new books have been added to these classes during the past three years. It is probable that most of the missing volumes will be recovered before next year's stock-taking. The Monro Collection. The Monro collection of medical books presented to the Library by Lady Hector has been catalogued and accessioned. It contains 317 volumes, of which number fifty-eight are in the manuscript of the three Monroes, primus, secundus, and tertins, who successfully held the Chair of Surgery, &c, in the Edinburgh University from 1720 to 1846. It is worthy of note that Sir Charles Monro, Commander-in-Chief at Gallipoli, is a great-grandson of A. Monro secundus. The books of the collection, a list of which will appear in the year's list of accessions, include most of the standard works on surgery, &c. Many of the publications, some of which date so far

H.—32

2

back as 1556, are of considerable historical interest, and many are of high value from a typographical point of view. All are in good order as regards the letterpress, but a fifth of them need rebinding. I do not, however, propose to recommend this rebinding until such time as it will be possible to have a special case made for the collection, the proper housing and display of which would no doubt act as an incentive to the donation of other valuable collections. The Chevalier Pictures. Last year, by resolution of the Library Committee, I was charged with the cataloguing of the pictures and drawings known as the Chevalier Collection, now hung in the Joint Committee-room. Printed labels identifying the subjects of the pictures have been placed on the frames, and a more detailed description of the pictures is now being printed in catalogue form. The catalogue should be ready for distribution to members very shortly. Miscellaneous. Copies of the Library rules, with lists of persons, the full and sessional privilege-lists have been circulated. Selections of old or little-used novels have been made and placed from time to time on the troopships. Altogether some two thousand books have been donated for patriotic purposes. The last selection made was of 163 volumes which were placed on board the troopship " Willochra," the ship's library having been destroyed in connection with the outbreak of smallpox on that vessel. The number of works dealing with New Zealand history, topography, &c, stored in the two cases in the lobby outside the main reading-room is now so great that the cases are inconveniently crowded. A new case is required immediately. I have applied to the Public Works Department to supply the same. The issue of monthly accession lists of new books has been continued, and have been, I think, of considerable service to members. During the recess, upon instructions from the Minister of Public Health, the Hon. G. W. Russell, M.P., I selected and purchased £50 worth of books to form the nucleus of a library for the King George V Hospital for soldiers at Rotorua. The books were entered in a register, catalogued and labelled, and prepared for issue, the necessary ledgers and circulation cards, with full instructions for the working of a lending-system, being also supplied. I have recently been engaged in forming a similar library for the Hanmer Hospital. I have to tender my thanks to the Chairman of the Joint Library Committee, G. J. Anderson, Esq., M.P., and to the Chairman of the Recess Library Committee, the Hon. Sir William HallJones, K.C.M.G., M.L.C., each of whom has been unsparing of time and trouble in his control of Library matters during the year, also to the High Commissioner and his staff for the promptness of his and their attention to such Library business as is transacted in London. The Library orders for books and periodicals purchased in London have, as usual, received every attention from Messrs. Sotheran and Co. and Messrs. Street and Co. Library Account. In an appendix will be found the Library balance-sheet for the year ended 31st March, 1916, with, a copy of the Auditor's certificate. I have, &c, Charles Wilson, Chief Librarian.

APPENDIX. • Balance-sheet for the Year ended 3.1st March, 1916. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. March 31, 1915, balance forward .. 581 9 6 Books and periodicals purchased in Annual grant .. .. .. 600 0 0 Great Britain .. .. .. 242 19 8 Private Bill fees .. .. .. 50 0 0 Books purchased in New Zealand . . 238 1 4 Stamp imprest refund .. .. 15 0 0 American periodicals .. .. 13 6 6 Extra newspapers and advertising .. 11 0 0 Books bought at auction .. .. 7 0 0 Sundry small accounts .. .. 3 11 0 Pire insurance .. .. .. 18 0 0 Stamp imprest .. .. .. 15 0 0 Cheque-book .. .. .. 0 6 0 Balance at bank .. .. .. 700 3 0 £1,249 9 6 £1,249 9 6 Copy of Auditor's Certificate. Account to the 31st March, 1916, has been examined and found correct, and the balance shown is found to coincide with the bank pass-book. R. J. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General. Note.—The balance shown at the end of the financial year (£700 3s.) will probably be exhausted in meeting current accounts and commitments before the receipt of this year's grant. Charles Wilson, Chief Librarian.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (750 copies), £2.

By Authority : Mabcus F. Mabks, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l6.

Price 3d.]