GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1921-22.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1922 Session I, H-32

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1922. NEW ZEALAND.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1921-22.

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

The Chief Librarian to the Chairman of the, Joint Library Committee. Sir, — I have the honour to submit the following report for the year 1921-22 :— 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 by the Chief Librarian were brought before the Committee and duly considered. Additions to Library. The Accessions Register shows that during the period Ist. July, 1921, to 15th Jam;, 1922, the number of catalogued accessions was 1,633. The total number of catalogued items, as shown by the Accessions Register, on the Ist August, .1922, was 1,993. The number of accessions during the Library year now dealt with is the lowest for some time past. This is due in part to the fact that owing to the adjourned session early in the year all the American official publications have not yet been catalogued. Another reason for the falling-off during the last three years in the number of catalogued accessions is the necessity which has arisen for greatly curtailing the purchase of new books, owing to the enormously increased cost of all books and periodicals. It is worthy of note that the annual grant for the purchase of books and periodicals (£600) is the same to-day as it was in 1873, when the vote was increased from £300 to £600. It is manifest that, in view of the greatly increased cost of books and periodicals as compared with pre-war prices, the purchasing-powers of the Selection Committee have been very seriously diminished. On periodicals alone the increase is very substantial. Whereas in 1912 the Library's expenditure in London on periodicals was under £120, the amount this year was over £180, and tfiis despite the Committee's action last year in discontinuing subscriptions to many newspapers and magazines previously filed in the Library. It is safe to say, also, that the increased cost of books of real importance stands at from 25 to 35 per cent. The Great War brought in its train a number of entirely new political, financial, industrial, and social problems, on which there is an ever-increasing flow of useful and interesting literature. It is now quite impossible for the Selection Committee, with the limited means at its disposal, to keep the Library adequately supplied with the best literature on these problems. The insufficiency of the annual grant to maintain the Library—which should, I think all will agree, bo regarded as a most important and valuably useful adjunct to the parliamentary machine—at its old pre-war standard of efficiency is, for the above and many other reasons needless to detail here, much to be regretted, and will, I trust, be repaired when the general financial position of the country becomes a little easier. The Library Staff. There have been no changes in the Library staff since my last report. The vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. Millen last year has not yet been filled, owing to the need for economy.

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Annual Stock-taking. Owing to the shorter recess period this year stock, was only taken in one instead of the usual two classes, Class 400, Philology, being dealt with. The result of the stock-taking showed that four volumes were missing. The same number were reported missing in 1916, when stock was last taken in this particular class. During the period 1916-22 some seventy books have been added to this class. The fact that a volume is reported missing does not necessarily imply that it is permanently lost, as during the latest investigation several volumes reported missing in 1916 have been found in their places on the shelves. Recess-privilege Holders. The number of persons to whom recess-privilege permits were issued as 549, all classes of the community being represented. The total number of books issued to holders of permits was 4,573, the lowest for some years. No fiction is issued to ordinary-privilege holders, the issue of novels as in previous recess periods being strictly confined to members of both Houses, and to those persons whose names are on the full-privilege list. With the exception of one volume which was lost, and which is being replaced at the loser's cost, and of another volume retained by permission for research work, all the books lent have been duly returned. Miscellaneous. A portrait of the late Donald Reid, sen., M.H.R., has been presented to the Library, and when suitably framed will be placed therein. The usual monthly lists of accessions have been issued to members during the recess, and a large number of books sent out to members in baskets. The Library orders'for books and periodicals purchased in England have, as usual, been entrusted to Messrs. Sotheran and Co. and Street and Co., and have received due attention. The three marble busts, of the late Sir Harry Atkinson, the late Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, and the late Sir John McKenzie respectively, together with the bronze bust of the late Sir John Hall, have been transferred from the Library to the main-entrance hall of the new Parliament Buildings. I have to express my thanks to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Joint Library Committee—the Hon. G. M. Thomson, M.L.C., and Mr. J. McC. Dickson, M.P.—and. to the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Recess Library Committee- the Hon. Sir William Hall-Jones, M.L.C., and the Hon. Dr. Collins, C.M.G!, M.L.C.—for the attention given by these gentlemen to. Library matters during the year ; also to the High Commissioner and his staff for the. promptitude and care displayed by them in connection with the Library business in London. Library Accounts. In an appendix will be found the Library balance-sheet for the year ended 31st March, 1922, with a copy of the auditor's certificate. 1 have, &c, Charles Wilson, Chief Librarian. APPENDIX. GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. Balance-sheet for the Year ended 31st March, 1922. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Kaiance, Ist March, 1922 .. .. 98 8 8 Purchase of books, periodicals, Annual grant .. .. .. .. 600 0 0 &c.— £ s. d. Additional .. .. .. .. 118 0 0 Great Britain .. .. 424 3 (i New Zealand .. .. 213 8 7 037 12 1 Fire insurance .. .. .. 18 0 0 Sundries .. .. .. .. 5 3 0 Balance, 31st March, 1022 .. 205 13 0 Less unpresented cheques .. 49 19 5 155 13 7 £810 8 8 £810 8 8 Examined and found correct.— G. F. C. Campbell, Controller and Auditor-General.

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