GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY (REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1943)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1943 Session I, H-32

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1943 NEW ZEALAND

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY (REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1943)

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 1942-43. J ' Accessions.—During the year 2,800 volumes were added to the Library stock, as compared with an average of 3,400 for the past twelve years. At 31st May, 1943, the number of books accessioned was 165,891. The accessions for the year were classified as follows : Bibliography, 128 ; newspapers, 132 ; philosophy, 9 ; religion, 63 ; sociology, 653 ; parliamentary, 181 ; philology, 20 ; natural science', 106 • useful arts, 352 ; fine arts, 108 ; literature, 190 ; travel and biography, 648 ; New Zealand literature' 62 ; fiction, 156. There were again some losses of books in transit to New Zealand owing to enemy action, and through out there has been a considerable lag in the arrival of books, especially from Great Britain. These causes together account for the apparently considerable credit balance in the account. While the accessions are 20 per cent, down as compared with a long range of previous years, there are books on order which will absorb a considerable portion of the balance. Donations.—Gifts were received from the Adelaide City Council (South Australia), the Department of Agriculture (Wellington), E. Bull (Wellington), Rev.'R. L. Challis (Rarotonga), Hobart Public Library (Tasmania), Mrs. B. G. Mitford (Wellington), Consul-General of Belgium, Press Company (Christchurch), M. Redman (Wellington), Roman Catholic Mission (Rarotonga), Mrs. T. Young (Wellington), and Leo Dwan (Kerikeri). The Year's Work.—The only staff change during the year was the resignation of Mrs. Hamilton on the occasion of her marriage. The staff is now much reduced, but the admirable spirit shown by all its members has enabled us to carry on with efficiency little impaired as regards service to Parliament and to the public. The trends of work commented on last year continue in the same direction. Historical research pure and simple has given way to investigations closely connected with the war and with public administration. The reference index has claimed much attention. The staff has played its part, also, in various co-operative Library activities and in the compilation of the usual lists. For reasons of economy, the lists published by this Library are smaller than usual. Archives.-—This work has been in abeyance since the removal of the contents of the Archives to a place of safety. Inter-library lending— The number of books lent by the General Assembly Library in response to requests from other libraries was 499, which is practically the same as in the preceding year (491), In the five years this useful system has been operating we have made loans as follows : 85, 155, 302, 491, 499. The principal borrowing library again was the Country Library Service, which took 408 a slightly lower proportion of the whole than last year. Altogether twenty-two libraries borrowed from us. The principal classes of books asked for were : History and biography, 187 ; literature, 88 ; sociology, 74 , useful arts, 45 ! fine arts, 31 ; religion, 27. There were only fourteen requests with which we were unable to comply. During the year the General Assembly Library borrowed eight books from other institutions.

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International Exchange. —Owing to war exigencies this activity of the Library was considerably restricted until the arrival late in the year of a large consignment of publications from the United States. We received 25 cases (of which 16 were for this Library), and we posted or delivered 2,720 packages to other Departments and private addresses. This compares with 10 cases and 2,594 packages in the previous year. Recess Privileges.—The frequency of parliamentary sessions seems now to be better understood by recess-privileges holders, whose numbers are again growing. This year we had 475, compared with 308 last year, 289 the year before, 516 in 1939-40, and 790 in 1938-39. During the recess 95 baskets and 268 parcels were posted to members of Parliament. I have pleasure in recording my appreciation of the work of the staff during a trying year ; of the efficiency with which the High Commissioner's Office has carried out our book orders ; and of the consideration and sympathetic interest shown by the Joint Library Committee in our work. The statement of receipts and expenditure for the year, with the Auditor-General's certificate, is attached. I am, &c., G. H. Scholejteld, Chief Librarian and Archivist.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY ACCOUNT Statement foe the Year ending 31st March, 1943 Receipts £ Payments Balance .. .. .. .. 1,002 Purchase of books and periodicals in—■ £ Annual grant .. .. .. .. 1,250 United Kingdom and United States .. .. 841 Refunds, lost books, &c. .. .. .. II Australia.. .. .. .. .. 28 Private Bill fees .. .. .. .. 25 New Zealand .. .. .. .. 225 Bank charge and petty expenses .. .. X Balance, Bank of New Zealand .. .. 1,193 £2,288 £2,288 G. H. Scholefield, Chief Librarian. Examined and found correct. —Cyril G. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General. 25th May, 1943.

Approximate Cod of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (U I copies), £2 10s.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 943. Price 3d.]

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