GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1940.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1940 Session I, H-32

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1940. NEW ZEALAND.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1940.

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

To the Chairman, Joint Library Committee. Sir, — I have the honour to report on the operations of the General Assembly Library for the year 1939-40. Accessions. During the financial year 1939-40 we added to our stock 3,837 volumes, as compared with 5,236 in the previous year, 4,994 in the year before, and an average of 3,460 for the last ten years. At the end of May the number of books accessioned was 156,200. The outbreak of the war in September, 1939, had a considerable effect on the policy of book selection ; many books which were of interest in pre-war months suddenly lost favour and gave place to a demand for quite a different class of literature. There was a considerable demand for maps and reference books dealing with each of the countries as they became involved in the war, and the Library was able to meet most of the demands in this direction, both from members of Parliament and from the services. The fine collection of maps and charts which has been built up in the last few years was found of very great value. This collection includes the official maps and charts of the British Ordnance Survey, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, the U.S. Hydrographic Office, and the corresponding departments in Canada and the Australian Commonwealth. Owing to difficulties of exchange and other war restrictions we had less freedom in purchasing abroad and, as last year, we have tended to get a larger proportion of our books in New Zealand. Donations. We have received a good number of donations during the year from various sources. Amongst these are the following : American Association for Adult Education (New York), Dr. F. A. Bett (Nelson), Biblioteca y Archivo (Mexico), R. G. Black (Wellington), C. G. Botha (Capetown), P. F. Brodrick (Martinborough), Carnegie Corporation of New York, China Information Service (Washington, D.C.), the Consuls for the Netherlands (Wellington) and Norway (Wellington), the Consul-General of Japan (Wellington), Sir Arthur Du Cros (Sussex), the Interdepartmental Committee on the Royal Visit (Ottawa), Cyrus Kehr (Washington, D.C.), M. Mason (Waimarama), New Zealand Shipping Company (Wellington), the Countess of Northbrook (Winchester, England), Puerto Rico Government (Puerto Rico),- Dr. W. E. Redman (Spring Creek), Royal Mail Lines, Limited (London), William Satchell (Auckland), T. E. Y. Seddon (Wellington), Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company (Wellington), Social Science Research Council (New York), Sir Ronald Storrs (England), Trades Union Congress (London), University of Tasmania (Hobart) and Mr. C. Morgan Williams, M.P. Staff Wosk. During this year again the Library was used to a generous extent by the staff of the Centennial Branch of the Internal Affairs Department, and many other students and historians, in the compilation of publications associated with the Centennial. This work disclosed in a very satisfactory manner the rich resources of the Library bearing on New Zealand history. The great use which was made of the Archive material assembled in the Library encourages the hope that in the near future some steps may be taken to place this branch on a more satisfactory basis. The extra rooms which have been made available for library purposes through the removal of the Health Department to new premises has enabled us to make a further redistribution of the book stock, which it is hoped will meet the requirements for some years to come. Thisprocess has involved a new division of sections in certain parts of the Library, but this is quite unavoidable in view of the congestion from which we have suffered for the last twenty years. Advantage was taken of the demand for reading matter for the troops on active service to make a complete overhaul of the fiction stock. This was carried out during the recess at the beginning of this year, and as a result 965 volumes, all in fit condition for reading, were transferred to the Country Library Service for the use of the troops. This weeding out has enabled us to bring together in one place most of our collection of standard English literature, in which the General Assembly Library is particularly strong.

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Mr. W. S. Wauchop was seconded during the whole year for duty as Pageant Master for the Centennial celebrations. He is expected to return to the Library in July. Miss Q. B. Cowles returned at the end of the year from several months' leave in Europe. During recent months the staff has been considerably reduced by the enlistment of members for war service. Early in the year Mr. B. D. Zohrab and Mr. C. H. Constable enlisted, and they are both now on service overseas. Their places were filled temporarily by the appointment of Miss M. Webster, 8.A., and Mr. A. S. Wickens. Mr. R. McEwan a few months after his appointment as binder volunteered for service, g,nd he is now,on the staff at Trentham Camp. His placets being filled temporarily by Mr. A. J. Vaughan, who was previously for some* years on the staff. Miss A. Griffin resigned to be married. Mr. G. L. Gabites has completed his B.A. degree. Copyright and Publications. The Library has published as usual the annual accession list and the copyright list of New Zealand publications for the calendar year, and has also distributed each quarter the interim list of accessions (for the benefit of honourable members) and the select list of New Zealand publications for the New Zealand Library Association. It has, as usual, co-operated in the compilation of several lists in connection with the Library Association. The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, upon which the Chief Librarian has been engaged for some years, is being published (on the suggestion of the National Historical Committee) as a Centennial publication. Volume I is out, and Volume II will probably appear during July. The completion of this book of reference will be of very great value to historical students, and will be the means of saving a considerable amount of staff time in all reference libraries. Good progress has been made with the revision of the New Zealand Parliamentary Record, which it was hoped to publish in connection with the Centennial. Inter-Library Loan. This activity of the Library again shows considerable expansion. During the year the General Assembly Library loaned 155 volumes to other libraries in New Zealand, as compared with 85 in the preceding year. About two-thirds of the loans were made through the Country Library Service in response to requests from small libraries all over the country. The balance were made to the libraries in the four larger cities and to the University and other special libraries. We received 17 requests for books which we could not supply. Of the books lent under this service much the largest proportion were history (67 volumes). Sociology accounted for 28 volumes. As usual the loans received by the General Assembly Library were considerably less in number than the books lent. We borrowed from the city and special libraries and from the Country Library Service 19 volumes, as compared with 6 in the preceding year. International Exchange. As agent in New Zealand for the International Exchange Service, the General Assembly Library last year received from abroad ,3,046 packages and 10 cases of official and scientific publications, as compared with 3,971 packages and 11 cases in the year 1938-39. The bulk of this was for the General Assembly Library, the balance being redistributed to Departments, libraries, and private addresses throughout the Dominion. The Japanese Government has taken advantage of the international exchange. Recess Privilege. Owing to the early uncertainty as to the duration of the recess the number of privileges issued was this year somewhat below the average. The following table gives a comparison of the number of privilege holders for some years past:— 1935 .. .. .. .. 1,085 1935-36 (three months) .. .. 590 1937 .. .. .. .. 1,079 1938 (nine weeks) .. .. .. 355 1938-39 .. .. .. .. 790 1939-40 .. .. .. .. 516 Of the books issued to recess privilege holders three are reported as lost and three others are still outstanding. The occupations of privilege holders were as follows : Accountants, 11 ; advertising agent, 1 ; agents, 3 ; architects, 2 ; artists, 7 ; auctioneer, 1 ; bank clerks, 5 ; barman, I ; barristers and solicitors, 14 ; blacksmith, 1 ; bookbinders, 2 ; booksellers, 3 ; broker, I ; carpenter, 1 ; chemists, 4 ; civil engineers, 2 ; civil servants, 95 ; clergymen, 10 ; clerks, 43 ; company managers and secretaries, 17 ; custodian, 1 ; dentists, 2 ; domestic duties, 67 ; draughtsmen, 8 ; electricians, 4 ; engine-driver, 1 ; engineers, 3 ; farmer, 1 ; hairdresser, 1 ; inspectors of schools, 2 ; insurance managers, 3 ; journalists, 15 ; labourer, 1 ; law clerks, 4 ; library assistants, 4 ; mechanicians, 2 ; medical practitioners, 7 ; merchant, 1 ; messengers, 11; musician, 1; music-teacher, 1; no occupation, 5; nurses, 3; photographer, 1; painter, 1 ; police constable, 1 ; printers and compositors, 10 ; radio announcer, 1 ; radio writers, 3 ; railway officers, 3 ; reader, 1 ; retired, 46 ; salesmen, 3 ; school-teachers, 31; soldiers, 3 ; students, 18 ; surveyors, 2 ; trade-union secretary, 1 ; tramway employees, 3; typists, 7 ; university lecturers, 5 ; waiter, 1 ; waterside workers, 2 ; wireless operator, 1. During the recess 376 baskets and parcels were despatched to members of the Legislature.

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New Zealand Libbary Association. The annual conference of the New Zealand Library Association was held in Wellington in February, 1940. This meeting was of particular interest owing to the recent opening of the new Central Library building. Delegates from all over New Zealand warmly congratulated the City on its fine new institution. The General Assembly Library was represented at the conference by the Chief Librarian, and the Library Committee by the Hon. T. Brindle, M.L.C. Most of the members of the staff attended different sessions of the conference. Dr. G. H. Scholefield was elected president of the Library Association for the ensuing year. The English Library Association during the year conferred a marked honour upon New Zealand libraries by bestowing its fellowship upon four of the Dominion's leading librarians, including Dr. Scholefield. Attached is a statement of receipts and expenditure for the year, with the certificate of the Auditor-General. In conclusion, I wish to express my appreciation of the support given by the staff during the year. I would thank also the High Commissioner and his staff for their co-operation in carrying out our commissions, and the Joint Library Committee for its continued interest in the work of the Library. I have, &,c., G. H. Scholefield, Chief Librarian. GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY ACCOUNT. Statement for the Year ended 31st March, 1940. Receipts. £ s. d. Payments. £ s. d. Balance .. .. .. .. .. 195 9 Purchase of books and periodicals in— Annual grant.. .. .. .. .. 1,250 0 0 United Kingdom and United States .. .. 715 13 10 Private Bill fees .. .. .. .. 25 0 0 Australia .. .. .. .. .. 815 Refunds, lost books, &c. .. .. .. 5 14 6 New Zealand .. .. .. .. 515 15 1 Foreign .. .. .. .. .. 114 6 Petty expenses . . . . .. .. Oil Bank charge .. . . . . .. .. 0 10 0 Stamp duty .. .. .. .. .. 002 Balance, Bank of New Zealand . . .. .. 58 4 2 £1,300 0 3 £1,300 0 3 11th April, 1940. G. H. Scholefield, Chief Librarian. Examined and found correct —C. G. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (460 copies) £4

Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l94o.

Price 3d.]

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