GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1950

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1950 Session I, H-32

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1950 NE W ZEAL A N D

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1950

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives % Leave

To the Chairman, Joint Library Committee. Sir,- - I have the honour to reporl on the operations of the General Assembly Library for the year 1949-50. Redecoration of Main Reading-room Early in the recess preparations were made for the replastering and repainting of the main reading-room which was in bad repair. This necessitated removing the books from the shelves around the walls so that these were no longer available for use. The actual work of restoration did not begin, however, until shortly before Christmas. The plastering work was finished by mid-February but the repainting was delayed till the plaster dried out, and had not been started at the end of the financial year. This has proved a serious handicap in the work of the Library and has made it impossible to open to recess privilege, holders, which is to be regretted. Staff Changes in the staff have caused difficulties this year, there, being periods when the temporary shortages have affected some departments adversely. An important, change Iras been made with regard to the cataloguing section. This is now housed in room 30, which was renovated for the purpose. The change should add to the efficiency of this department as the staff can work without being subjected to constant interruptions as in the past. Three members of the Library staff lent valuable 1 assistance 1 by erecting the necessary shelving from old materials to hand and removing the furniture. (Jonsequent on the change more space has been made available to students and others engaged in research work, and additional tables have been placed in the annex to the reading-room where they are in constant use; and the quieter conditions attained are more conducive to serious study.

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The comfort of the staff generally has been greatly improved by the provision of a more adequate rest-room on the ground floor. Each member has been provided with a locker, and a convenient kitchenette has been installed. These amenities are much appreciated. Messrs. R. McEwan and B. Mattingley of the bindery staff very helpfully renovated tables and chairs for the room. The alterations necessitated moving a large part of the official publications and the reconstruction of the sorting-room. Book Stock Despite staff changes the cataloguing department has accessioned and catalogued 4,837 books as compared with 4,911 for the previous year. Following on a recommendation from the Joint Library Committee an additional grant of £250 was made this year ; and this has enabled us to order several important reference works and to strengthen the law section which gradually is being brought up to date. The balance at the Bank of New Zealand shows a credit of £3Bl 6s. Bd. as compared with £6B 4s. Id. last year, but the books on order at 31st March would absorb this amount. The new accessions were classified as follows, the figures for last year being given in parentheses : Bibliography, 235 (227); newspapers, 124 (159); philosophy, 45 (26); religion, 145 (129) ; sociology, 1,265 (1,293) ; parliamentary, 333 (251) ; philology, 20 (42); natural science, 168 (233) ; useful arts, 579 (552) ; fine arts, 280 (346) ; literature, 338 (325) : travel and history, 611 (672) ; biography, 318 (283) ; fiction, 376 (373). Owing to staff shortages at various periods it has not been possible to proceed with reclassification schemes but stock was taken of the history section. Donations 1 wish to acknowledge, with thanks, donations to the Library from the following : Belgian Legation (Wellington), Book Society (London), British Council, Trustees of the British Museum (London), Canadian Geographical Society (Canada), Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (U.S.A.), Professor D. V. Cowen (Capetown), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Sydney), Francis Bacon Society (London), High Commissioner for Australia in New Zealand, High Commissioner for Canada in New Zealand, Mr. Samuel Jacobv (U.S.A.), Captain R. Lloyd Jones (U.S.A.), G. and J. Kitcat, Ltd. (London), Messrs. Kraks Legat (Denmark), Mr. Marcus Marks (Eastbourne), Northern Ireland Government Office (London), Parliament Library, Stockholm, Prisma Editions (Paris), Public Library of South Australia, Lord Rowallan (London), Royal Netherlands Legation (Wellington), Society of Automotive Engineers (U.S.A.), Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. Stafford (Fiji), State Information Office (Pretoria, S.A.), Mr. Michael Standish (Wellington), Mr. T. F. Thornton (Kelburn), United Commerical Travellers Association, Ltd. (Melbourne), University of Western Australia. Circulation Despite the fact that the Library was not open to recess privilege holders the circulation figures dropped only to 20,755 volumes as compared with 23,452 volumes last year. Ninetv-four baskets and 71 parcels were posted to Members of Parliament and 286 parcels to other libraries. Under the library inter-loan system 635 books were sent to 40 libraries as compared with 907 to 34 libraries last year. The National Library Service borrowed 259 (368) and the Library School 90 (260). Our borrowings from other libraries were 24 (38). Reference Department The reference staff has given, good service not only to Members of Parliament and Government Departments, but to the public generally. No serious request for information is turned down, and inquiries from various parts of the world have been answered.

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There were 1,324 inquiries entailing research on the part of the staff', of which 398 required less than five minutes' work, 501 took five to fifteen minutes, and 425 took over fifteen minutes. Among the 52 students using the Library for research purposes were five Fulbright scholars. Indexing of Newspapers As the Wellington newspaper, the Dominion, has found it impossible to continue compiling its index, a copy of which has been supplied generously to the General Assembly Library in the past, it has been necessary to extend our existing index of the Evening Post in order to cover New Zealand news as fully as possible. This is a large task and takes most of the time of one of the senior assistants of the reference department; but it is essential to the accurate and speedy answering of questions. It will also be of great value to students in the future, and will link up with the index of the earlier Wellington newspapers. The preparation of the latter has suffered recently owing to the resignation of the indexer, but already the issues to June, 1844, have been covered. Binding The bindery has again given excellent service despite the fact that a senior bookbinder was absent on sick leave for seven months. The volume of work done was reduced in consequence, but the output included 1,776 volumes bound and 328 rebound or repaired. The figures last year were 2,268 and 624 respectively. In addition the 4,837 new accessions were stamped with the Library crest and classification numbers and pockets put in the backs, and several special binding jobs were done for the Legislative Department. International Exchange Again our work as agents of the International Exchange has grown considerably, 5,400 packages having been received and despatched to other addresses in New Zealand compared with 3,684 last year. The Library received in addition 16 cases of material for its own use compared with 14 cases for 1948-49. There is an increasing demand for exchange agreements from other countries so that this is a department where the work is expanding all the time. Negotiations are under way for an exchange of official publications with India. During the year an exchange of material was effected with the University of California. We were able to supply sets of the Appendices to the Journals and the New Zealand Debates. In exchange we are receiving the Library of Congress Author Catalogue (300 volumes) published by Edwards Brothers, Ann Arbor, Michigan. We also completed similar sets for the library of the Cambridge University and shall receive books from the Cambridge University Press in exchange. Most of the volumes sent abroad in this way were from stocks which the Library has salvaged from various sources and held for such purposes. Thus, not only does the General Assembly Library benefit, but better resources are provided abroad for students doing research in New Zealand subjects. Acknowledgments 1 should like to express my appreciation of the work of the staff generally during the year. They have applied themselves to additional tasks with zeal and have given loyal service. I feel I should mention especially Messrs. J. O. Wilson, D. Dighton, and 8. Donkin for the special job they did in connection with the moving of the cataloguing department, for without their willing help the change could not have been made.

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I owe my sincere thanks to the Joint Library Committee for their helpful co-operation and interest; to the Hieh Commissioner for New Zealand m London and his staff lor their ready attention to our needs ; and to the overseas agents of the New Zealand Government in the United States of America, Canada, and Australia for their courteous statement 0 f receipts and expenditure for the year, with the AuditorGeneral's certificate. 1 am, &c., W. S. Wauchop, Chief Librarian.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY ACCOUNT Statement for the Year Ending 31st March, 1950 Receipts \ . , , P^nents Balance Purchase oi books and subscripBank of New Zealand, 1st April, £ s. d. tions to periodicals- £ d. 194: c) 68 4 1 United Kingdom .. •• i» iv Petty cash, 1st April, 1949 .. 1 14 6 United States of America and Private Bill fees .. 125 0 0 Canada 457 lo 7 Annual grant 2,250 0 0 Australia lb A Refunds, lost books, resales, &c. .. 27 8 - New Zealand .. ■ • 10 2 Bank charges and cheque-book .. , , a Petty-cash expenses .. • • 1 u ' Petty-cash balance . • • • y * ° Balance at Bank of New Zealand.. 3bl b b 9 9 Note.—Private Bill fees received from Treasury include £75 which were due but not received at 31st March, 1949. W. S. Wauchop, Chief Librarian. Examined and found correct.—J. P. Rutherford, Controller and AuditorGeneral. Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (614 copies), £8.

By Authority: E. E. Owen, Government Printer, Wellington. 1950 Price 3d.]

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