GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1932.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1932 Session I-II, H-32

H.—32,

1932. NEW ZEALAND.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1932.

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

To the Chairman of the Joint Library Committee. Sir, — I have the honour to report on the operations of the General Assembly Library for the year 1931-32. Accessions. During the year 3,142 volumes were added to the collection from all sources, as compared with 3,136 for the year 1930-31, 2,906 in 1929-30, 2,153 in 1928-29, 2,270 in 1927-28, 2,162 in 1926-27, and 1,501 in 1925-26. The total number of volumes accessioned to the end of the financial year was 126,480. The stock of the Library however, owing to withdrawals, dilapidations, and loss of books, is some thousands short of that figure. As in previous years, we have taken every opportunity of filling up gaps in sets and replacing missing volumes which were worth preserving. Stocktaking. Owing to the special sessions in 1931 and the early part of 1932, it was not possible to check the stock in any class this year. It is hoped, however, to resume this work in the next recess. A start has been made with the writing of shelf-cards for the whole of the stock. When this is done it is hoped that the process of stocktaking will be much less onerous. Binding. Once more the binding vote has been fully availed of. The amount was almost entirely absorbed in the binding of new books which reached the Library in paper covers. We are not losing sight of the necessity of rebinding books with dilapidated covers, but only a limited amount is possible within the vote. Donations. During the year gifts were made to the Library by Mr. C. R. Allen, Mr. E. J. Guinness, the Henry E. Huntington Library (California), Mr. G. E. Gerwig, Mr. A. B. Davies, Mr. C. D, Bernays, the British Broadcasting Company, Dr. Campbell Begg, the Institute of Pacific Relations, Mr. J. T. Grose, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Mr. P. McManus, the Danish Consul, Mr. A. F. McDonnell, Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, and the Baha'i Library Committee. An original " Punch " cartoon by Sir Bernard Partridge was presented to the Library by His Excellency the Governor - General; and a coloured photograph of Samuel Butler's homestead at Mesopotamia, Canterbury, by Mrs. Malcolm Ross. Library Routine. The reference work done in the Library has continued to show an increase, as in recent years, and the number of students doing research work is well maintained. The want of a public search-room is keenly felt. This side of the Library work entails a good deal of initiative on the part of members of the staff, who frequently act in the relation of research supervisor to students. The value of the work which is done in the General Assembly Library in this connection has been recognized this year by the award of a Fellowship by the Carnegie Corporation to Mr. A. D. Mcintosh, M.A. Mr. Mcintosh was granted leave of absence for a year, and is now in America studying recent library development, and particularly legislative reference work in the various State Libraries of the United States. He will also pay some attention to archive procedure in the United States and Canada.

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Recess Privileges. The additional sessions of Parliament curtailed to some extent the period during which the Library was open to recess-privilege holders. Nevertheless, the privilege was used during the recent recess by 812 persons, this being a slight increase on the number for the previous recess. This does not include numerous inquirers who visit the Library almost every day in search of information on specific subjects. The method of charging books has been considerably simplified this year, but, unfortunately, it now precludes the usual statement of the number of books issued during the year. Archives. The work of the New Zealand archives is now being done in connection with the Library. Steady progress is being made with the sorting and binding of a large quantity of historical papers, principally connected with the provinces and the New Zealand Company. In this connection the archives received during the year a valuable gift from Dr. Sinclair Gillies, of Sydney, of a considerable quantity of papers and letters of Dr. Andrew Sinclair, who was Colonial Secretary in New Zealand from 1844 until the establishment of responsible government in 1856. Library Committees. During the financial year the following meetings of the various Library Committees were held Legislative Council, 1 ; House of Representatives, 1 ; Joint Committee, 2. Once more I have pleasure in recording my appreciation of the very efficient work done by the Library staff during a particularly trying year, and of the sympathetic co-operation of the Library Committee. The apparently large balance in hand is due to the fact that the annual grant is not received until the end of the parliamentary session and consequently sufficient money must be kept in the bank to meet all accounts for purchases of books up to that time; that is, for about eight months of the current financial year. The balance was practically exhausted in normal purchases by the date of the Library Committee meeting (November 16th). The balance-sheet for the year, with the Auditor's certificate attached, is appended. I have, &c,, G. H. SCHOLEFIELD, Chief Librarian. LIBRARY FUND ACCOUNT. Statement for Year ended 31st March, 1932. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance .. .. .. •• 319 14 11 By Purchase of books and periodicals — Annual grant .. .. .. 900 0 0 " United Kingdom .. .. .. 386 2 8 Refunds? lost books, &c. .. .. 4 3 1 United States of America .. .. 154 18 9 New Zealand .. .. .. 159 17 8 Australia .. .. .. .. 8 0 8 South Africa .. .. .. 4 17 6 Bank charge .. .. .. 10 0 Petty cash .. .. .. 0 14 Balance— £ s. d. Bank of New Zealand .. 508 17 2 Petty cash .. .. 0 2 3 508 19 5 £1,223 18 0 £1,223 18 0 G. H. SCHOLEFIELD, Chief Librarian. Examined and found correct. —J. H. Fowler, Deputy Controller and Auditor-General.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (390 copies), £2 ss.

By Authority : W. A. G. Skinmr, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 932.

Price 3d.]

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