NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1950

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

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1950 NEW ZEALAND

NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1950

Presented to Both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave

The Hon. the Minister op Education. Sir,— Wellington, 12th July, 1950. I have the honour to submit the following report of the activities of the National Library Service. The report covers the work of the three divisions of the ServiceCountry Library Service, Library School, and National Library Centre. Gr. T. Alley, Director. SECTION I—COUNTRY LIBRARY SERVICE On the 31st March, 1950, 822 towns and small centres were receiving regular loans of books, an increase of 14 centres over the previous year. The School Library Service has also increased, and on the 31st March, 1950, 2,058 schools, with 149,657 children, were receiving service. This is an increase of 76 schools, with 14,771 children, since the same date in 1949. A summary of the methods bv which books, periodicals, and information are made available to country people is given below : (a) Free loans of books are made on a population basis to libraries controlled by local authorities, which in turn agree to make their libraries free and to maintain reasonable standards of library service ; (b) Loans of books are granted to independent subscription public libraries at a small annual charge per fifty books loaned ; (c) Loans of books through hamper collections are available to isolated groups of readers at a small annual charge ; (d) Loans of books are also made free of charge to isolated readers through the postal service ; and (e) Free loans of books are also granted on a population basis to Works Department, State Hydro-electric and New Zealand Forest Service Camps.

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All libraries served under (a) and (b) and the majority under (e) receive regular visits from one of the especially equipped book : vans of this service, at least three visits being paid to each library during a normal year. In addition, all persons, by whichever of the above means they receive library service, may obtain loans of requested books by post from the headquarters of this Service. Books issued by the School Library Service are distributed on a circulating basis in special containers. FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES : "A " SERVICE During the year the local authorities of the following towns adopted the principle of the free library service and qualified for assistance under the " A " scheme : Birkenhead, Opunake, and Whakatane in the North Island, and Geraldine in the South Island. On the 31st March, 1950, there were 88 borough and town district libraries and 2 County Council libraries participating in the service, serving a local population of 236,607 together with a considerable number in the surrounding areas. In addition to the many specially requested books and periodicals, 34,825 books are on regular loan to them. This year is being suitably marked in the United Kingdom as the centenary of the passing, on 14th August, 1850, of the first Public Libraries Act. This and succeeding Acts, notably that of 1919 which gave library powers to County Councils and removed rating limitation in England and Wales, have made it possible for an almost complete coverage in free library service to be achieved in that country. The position in New Zealand in 1950, both from the point of view of legislation by the General Government and from the standpoint of achievement by local authorities, is less satisfactory. From its beginnings the young colony made efforts to establish and maintain libraries, and there is recorded the formal setting-up of one institute and athenaeum before the settlers landed here, while they were still on shipboard. In 1869 the New Zealand General Assembly passed the Public Libraries Act,, empowering local governing authorities to set up libraries and to levy rates for the purpose. Admission to all libraries established under that Act was to be free of all charge. There was no debate on the Bill in the House of Representatives, where it was introduced by Mr. G. M. O'Rorke, afterwards Sir George M. O'Rorke, who claimed that it adapted the principle of the English Act of 1850 to the Colony. In the Legislative Council the Hon. Mr. Gisborne was in charge of the Bill, and he considered that the establishment of public libraries ' ; would be a lever for the education of the people of the colony." A further Bill which became the Public Libraries Powers Act of 1875 was introduced by Mr. O'Rorke, who stated that the Provincial Council of Auckland had taken an interest in the establishment of public libraries in its province, but the status of these libraries did not enable them to enforce their rules and regulations nor to accept endowments. This Act, together with that of 1869, was repealed by the Consolidated Statutes Enactment Act of 1908. It was the forerunner of the Libraries and Mechanics Institutes Act of that year, which is still in force. The Public Libraries Subsidies- Act of 1877 was important in that it specified the manner of distribution of the new grant for public libraries. A sum of £5,000 was allocated in the estimates of that year. Help to libraries was to be given in two main ways. Firstly, the several Education Boards were entrusted with the distribution " in books or in cash " of such sums as were allotted by Boards to libraries maintained or partly maintained by voluntary subscriptions in their districts. Secondly, a subsidy to municipal libraries was authorized on the basis of £1 for £1 on local expenditure on the " establishment and maintenance of free public libraries." Mr. O'Rorke, in supporting the Bill, said that he thought its proper designation was the " Country Libraries Act." Large public libraries, which he desired to see established in the cities, ought to be maintained by rates as was done in England, aided

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by a contribution from Government funds, as in the case of Highway Boards. Mr. F. "Whitaker said he thought that there should be provision for appointment of persons whose duty it would be to manage these libraries. From 1877 to 1883 grants were made to libraries through Education Boards, the Otago Board developing a scheme of central purchasing and distribution instead of making cash grants to libraries. There is no record of the separate subsidy payment to municipal libraries being made as provided for in the 1877 Act, but libraries in the larger centres participated in the distribution of the general public library subsidy for some years. It was seen very early that if income were to be the, basis of participation, ■the large number of small libraries would suffer in the distribution of the limited amount available unless some adjustment was made. Accordingly a nominal addition of £25 to the income of smaller libraries was made, and in 1883 the maximum grant to any library was fixed at £5O. The annual report of the Education Department —E-l —for 1883 states that "£6,000 was distributed to public libraries in accordance with the General Assembly ... In consequence of the limitation of the maximum grant to £5O, the Wellington Athenseum have closed their free reading-room and have not applied for a share of the subsidy." After 1884 the subsidy was distributed, in those years in which it was made available by the Government, directly by the Education Department. The last year in which it was available was in 1929, when £3,000 was distributed. As early as 1910 at the first conference of the (then) Libraries Association of New Zealand, Mr. Mark Cohen had urged the establishment of a system of circulating books to the smaller libraries in preference to the existing method of aiding them by small grants of money, and in suggesting that such circulation be carried out by the larger public libraries he anticipated by a generation the ideas of the advocates of regional library development. "I am of the opinion," Mr. Cohen said, " that the State will secure far better value for its money if it divides the subsidy up among the public libraries in New Zealand on condition that the latter take up the work of initiating and establishing a travelling library scheme modelled on the lines of those so successfully operating in Australia and America." Nothing was done, however ; and in 1934 the Munn-Barr report of a survey conducted with funds from the Carnegie Corporation of New York presented gloomy evidence that not even the first principles of library service as it had been known overseas for almost a century had been widely adopted in New Zealand. Subscription libraries, giving a " downhill " service of poor books in poor buildings, were all that had been accomplished in all but a few places. Fortunately it was at this period, when librarianship was at its lowest ebb, that the Carnegie Corporation of New York was generously making it possible for New Zealand librarians to travel abroad. Some of them were able to attend professional courses at library schools in the United States. This was to have immediate effect, and the results showed that this professional training overseas was to be one of the landmarks in library development. From library schools in Michigan, Pittsburgh, and London, young New Zealanders returned with a completely fresh outlook and enthusiasm, and the realization that good library service depends almost entirely on trained people probably dates from this period of new vigour. The Libraries Association of New Zealand, which since 1910 had been somewhat moribund, was revived as the New Zealand Library Association in 1935. Co-operative projects, for example, in the field of inter-library loan, necessary since no library could give a complete service without outside help, were started, and have been followed by others, such as the Union Catalogue and the Union List of Serials. At this time, Government interest in the State's responsibility for helping local authorities in the library field was renewed. The Right Hon. G. W. Forbes announced in November, 1935, that he was impressed with the need for a different method of

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assistance for the smaller libraries. The plan he proposed was to give each library qualified for the earlier subsidy free loans of books, which were to be forwarded by rail and other transport services. The scheme submitted by the New Zealand Library Association to the Minister of Education, Mr. Eraser, in 1937, and approved and put into operation, was more detailed and far-reaching, and included free service only if certain conditions were carried out by local authorities. The Carnegie Corporation of New York in 1937 was not unwilling to make funds available for a regional demonstration of library service in one small area, and a preliminary study of Taranaki was made. The Government, however, felt that the development of good book and information services was of such importance that funds should be available from within New Zealand without help from an overseas foundation. Accordingly the plans already referred to were prepared for State assistance to be given in the form of a circulating supply of books for smaller centres throughout New Zealand. Thus the Country Library Service started on 30th May, 1938, giving assistance to public libraries in centres of under 2,500 population. By degrees this service has been extended to provide some measure of assistance in all but the four main centres. The decision to give assistance in the form of books and other services was based on the recognition that local authorities were the best authorities to administer public libraries. In New Zealand this conception goes back to the first Act of 1869, and it is still a valid one, even though the tendency in some branches of Government has been to reduce the fields of activity of local authorities and to substitute a State activity. It would have been comparatively easy for the Country Library Service to administer public libraries on a national basis, as for example, education is administered by a central Education Department, with the assistance of local committees which would parallel local School Committees. In many places this would undoubtedly have resulted in a service superior to that at present given by some local authorities. Erom a long-term point of view, however, such a plan is not desirable ; local-government interest is of vital importance and the system of its support by State assistance, generally accepted overseas, is still the best form of administration. The pronounced improvement in public library services in the smaller centres, all the more striking because it has been achieved in such a brief period, is due to Government assistance for local effort, and has drawn much favourable comment from overseas experts. It has become clear, however, that only a certain standard of service can be attained locally when assistance from the State is restricted to one form —that of books. Past that level it is impossible to go without further forms of assistance, probably in the form of subsidies. At present, even with books made available, the majority of local authorities find it impossible to give anything more than a token service from their own income. Only two or three boroughs of under 20,000 population have been able to demonstrate to the others the kind of library service that all might have. In attempting the formulation of a modern definition of a library, Carleton B. Joeckel, in his Government of the American Public Library, states the essential elements in efficient library service include the following : Active and efficient administrative direction. * Centralized financial administration and accounting. Centralized book purchasing under competent technical direction. Centralized (or centrally directed) cataloging and classification by trained personnel. A central reference collection of broad scope, including printed materials of all types. A central reservoir of circulating books large enough and live enough to meet a wide demand from many types of readers. A staff of specialists sufficient to provide a high quality of general and technical reference service, readers' advisory service, service to adult groups, and service to children and schools. A system of community and school branches, and other extension agencies. Additional service to outlying communities through stations and book wagons.

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It will be \iseful also to summarize the kinds of work which local authorities would do if they had the funds available and enlightened librarians to advise them and to carry out the work. Taken broadly, then, the functions of a public library can be as follows : (1) It can contribute to family life, which is still the unit of social life. A service of books on the domestic arts, sewing, cooking, interior decoration, infant management and child psychology, gardening, joinery, and the home workshop should be freely available on the widest possible basis to help maintain the standard of home life ; (2) The library should help the community towards fruitful use of leisure time. For this, books are necessary for proficiency in sports and hobbies —radio, motor engineering, the building of trailer caravans, for example ; (3) It can be the most valuable instrument of democracy and good citizenship. Where no good library exists, books written by zealots and propagandists, and newspapers which tend to be sensational, can be potent weapons of subversion. But a good library service providing material in open, balanced, many-sided collections on policies, mass movements, economics, citizenship, and government can help to make a democracy sane, informed, stable, and real ; (4) The library can sustain and raise the standards of public and social conduct. Into this field comes, for instance, the subject of health education, and a service should be given which will help the layman on matters such as nutrition, prevention of sickness, and mental instability ; (5) The library is the most powerful instrument for sustaining the desire to learn. The discursive reading done by children will be maintained as they grow into adults if good supplies of well-chosen books are provided in pleasant surroundings ; (6) There should be assistance given to citizen groups. Societies active in drama, music, parent-teacher work, and so on must be able to look to the library for help and inspiration ; (7) In the same way farmers, business and professional men should expect the library to make an important contribution to the economic life of the community, by keeping books and periodicals up to date with the technological advances that are being made ; (8) The presentation of art and imaginative literature in abundance, the great works of fiction, drama, poetry, and painting, is an important function of the library in keeping the people in touch with the finest products of civilization of all ages. This field will be enjoyed by almost every one ; and (9) The library is the place for people to go who want " a book to read." Those who want light fiction should be -able to obtain it from the library as the convenient place, but should not expect a service of this kind of material to be provided from public funds. A service of westerns, detective, and romance novels can be given efficiently only on a commercial basis. It will be clear that to give the kind of service described it is necessary for money to be allocated on a much greater scale than most local authorities are capable of providing. The minimum amount previously cited as necessary —2s. 6d. per head of population—is at the present time quite inadequate for giving more than one or two branches of this work, even with the assistance of books lent from this Service. Even clearer is the fact that it will always be impossible for a full service to be given until qualified librarians are employed in each centre. Local authorities will not be conscious that a full service is possible until trained people can demonstrate that it is so. Where a mediocre service is in operation, demand for a full service seldom makes itself felt. There is the tendency for people to accept whatever is provided for them, without full knowledge of what they

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may have. There has been an immediate response, however, both from the people as a whole and in local-authority financial support, in those libraries where energetic and enlightened librarians have been directing the service, even after a few weeks' work. While it is imperative for assistance to be continued by making available bulk loans of books, it is obviously necessary that further stimulation must be provided for local authorities to employ such people, in order that assistance in books can be used fruitfully. Provision of subsidies seems the best way to do this, since it has been demonstrated thatvery few local authorities in the 2,000-20,000 population group are in a position to make adequate funds available for the complete service. The principle of Government subsidy on local-authority libraries is becoming widely accepted overseas. In recent years legislation empowering Governments to subsidize local libraries conforming to certain standards has been passed in Norway, New South Wales, Canada, Denmark, and other countries. SMALL INDEPENDENT SUBSCRIPTION LIBRARIES: "B" SERVICE During the year, 691 of these libraries were linked with this Service, compared with the number of 679 for the previous year. Of these libraries, 355 are in the North Island and 336 in the South Island. Altogether 55,555 books were on loan to these "B " libraries, an average of approximately 80 books per library. Figures showing the growth of this section of the Country Library Service are given below :

"C" OK HAMPER SERVICE In places where no library exists and when it is not possible for one to be formed and visited by the book-van, the service to properly established groups by means of hampers despatched from headquarters has been continued. During the year 43 groups received service and 14 were converted to " B " service and are receiving visits from the book-van. Service to Works Department, State Hydro, and New Zealand Forest Service: Camps and Stations Commencing on Ist April, 1949, a free library service has been given to these, the total number of camps or stations benefiting at 31st March, 1950, being 39. Of this number, 36 receive visits from the book-van and 3 are served by hamper from headquarters. The number of books issued to each library is governed by the number of employees at any location.

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Number of Pate of Annual Itepc " B " Libraries Participating. 31st March, 1939 179 31st March, 1940 265 31st March, 1941 302 31st March, 1942 348 31st March, 1943 368 31st March, 1944 391 31st March, 1945 423 31st March, 1946 504 31st March, 1947 555 31st March, 1948 649 31st March, 1949 679 31st March, 1950 691

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REQUEST SERVICE All libraries, groups, and individuals receiving library service from the Country Library Service, and all Government Departments, may ask for special short-term loans of books of an informational type from the headquarters stock of this Service, and, in addition, the headquarters stock is used extensively to satisfy inter-library loan requests (see also the report of the Librarian, National Library Centre).

Books Requested and Supplied

The increase in the number of requests received from libraries has imposed a severe strain on the Service, and yet it seems likely to continue for several years. The opening of the office at Palmerston North gave some relief to the seriously overcrowded headquarters in Wellington ; 20,685 requests were dealt with in Wellington, however, compared with 19,525 in the previous year. The number of requests handled cannot increase much further without greatly improved accommodation and increased staff. Books borrowed from other libraries throughout New Zealand were of great help in meeting requests ; 3,933 of the total issues were of books belonging to other libraries, whose willing co-operation does much to make New Zealand's book resources available to all,citizens, no matter in what part of the country they may be. POSTAL OE "D" SEKVICE The service to people in really isolated places, including back-country farms and lighthouses, continues to be used well, and is the subject of frequent expressions of gratitude from people who would otherwise not have access to any kind of library service. Books are chosen by the staff of this Service and posted to members ; they may also ask for specific books, which will be borrowed from other libraries if they are not in this Service's stock.

Postal Service Members

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Year Ended 31st March, Increase, Per Cent. 1940. 1950. To Country Library Service libraries To Government Department libraries To interloan libraries 20,148 3,224 4,650 25,822 4,681 5,636 28-2 45-2 21-2 Total issues 28,022 36,139 29-0

Year Ended 31st March, 1949. 1950. Active members — North Island South Island In lighthouses 637 288 110 677 258 112 Totals 1,035 1,047 Books issued— North Island South Island To lighthouses 13,888 9,936 1,598 15,060 7,154 1,752 Totals 25,422 23,966

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LOAN COLLECTIONS The use of subject loan collections is a particularly valuable part of the service, for they demonstrate to members of small libraries that there is a variety of books available on subjects which are too specialized to be found well represented in any but the largest libraries. This work has, however, owing to the staff shortages, had to be done only perfunctorily, particularly in the North Island.

Use of Loan Collections

PERIODICALS SERVICE A total of 565 periodicals is now taken by this Service, and 133 titles have been sent out regularly (228 copies) to 77 free participating libraries. Each library receives up to 28 periodicals chosen from the list, in lots of from 3 to 8, sending them on to other libraries at the end of each month. Other titles are sent, on short-term loan, to public and Government Department libraries which are interested in them. The Service now possesses some valuable files of periodicals, but difficulties of accommodation cause less use to be made of them than is desirable. HOSPITAL AND INSTITUTIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE This Service makes available collections of books, on a scale based on one book per bed, to those, local authorities which are in a position to extend their public library service to patients in their local hospital. At 31st March, 1950, 10 public libraries were participating in this Service, and 700 books were on loan to them. Exchanges are made direct from the hospital collection of this Service. In return for this assistance, the local authority is required to take responsibility for the administration of the patients' library. The best results are achieved when a member of the public library staff can make visits each week to the wards of the hospital, circulating books from a specially constructed hospital book-trolly. In this way, good co-ordination of service to readers while they are sick as well as when they are in good health is maintained. Where this is not possible, the assistance of volunteers is used. Voluntary workers, however,, are, at a disadvantage, as it is difficult for them to acquire the extensive knowledge of books and readers' tastes that comes from the normal administration of a public library.

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Year Ended 31st March, 1949. 1950. Number of collections sent — To libraries linked with Country Library Service — North Island 196 178 South Island 130 181 326 359 To other libraries — North Island 10 26 South Island 14 11 — 24 — 37 Total 350 396 Number of books issued — North Island 13,474 10,738 South Island 6,708 9,581 Total 20 ,182 20 ,319

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Hospital Boards are encouraged to assist by allocating a certain sum of money each year for the provision of new books and periodicals. While it will be some years before the minimum standards laid down overseas —of a book collection based on eight books per bed —will be achieved, it is desirable that the hospital library should be stocked with new, clean, and attractive books in good condition. The tendency to rely on gifts and discards for the bulk of the stock is undesirable, resulting in an inferior service. Under skilled administration, with a carefully chosen book collection, a hospital service can assume three broad functions : (a) Therapeutic. —A patients' library can provide encouragement towards recovery, divert attention from illness, promote relief from worry, and help to maintain interest in the outside world. (b) Rehabilitative. —It can assist the patient to equip himself socially and economically to resume his normal place in society—for example, by helping in selfexpression those who wish to do creative work while in hospital: writing, sketching, handwork, &c. (c) Educational. —The library can do a great deal by supplying vocational and professional reading, and by giving guidance in planned courses of reading. Tangible results are more easily seen in institutions where the patients' stay in hospital is longer—for instance, in mental hospitals and tuberculosis sanatoria. During the year, service to sanatoria has developed, and assistance has been provided to 5 institutions, accommodating approximately 600 patients. The book collection for tuberculosis patients is kept separate from the rest of the stock, and loans are made on the basis of one book per patient, and are exchanged three times a year. The response given to these books and the use made of them by this type of patient, who mostly fall into a young age group, shows that a great need exists for this service. As soon as the service covers all the sanatoria, it will be extended to the tuberculosis wards of general hospitals. Of the 11 mental hospitals of the Dominion, 9 receive books from this Service for their patients' libraries. A total of 2,800 books are on loan and are exchanged regularly. Service in mental hospitals is hampered sometimes by lack of suitable accommodation for the books, and by lack of staff to circulate them. Where these difficulties are overcome, however, good use has been made of the books, chosen to meet the particular needs of this type of patient, and considerable benefit has been derived from them. Service to 13 prisons has continued, and 2,525 books are on issue to them. Exchanges are now made from the book-van instead of by hamper as formerly. BOOK STOCK During the year additions to stock were 55,740 volumes—l6,9o7 fiction and 38,833 non-fiction. Withdrawals were 6,533 —5,973 fiction and 560 non-fiction —making net additions 49,207. The stock of the Service for use by adult readers now stands at 341,190 volumes, made up of 114,972 fiction and 226,218 non-fiction. In addition, 16,063 books were purchased by the Service for other Government Departments. Such books are on permanent loan to the Departments concerned, but their cost is charged to this Service by a Treasury decision. At 31st March, 1950, the stock of the children's section was 368,238, making a grand total of all stock of 709,428 volumes. Once again the valuable assistance given by overseas agencies of the New Zealand Government in securing publications for the Service is acknowledged. SCHOOL LIBRARY SERVICE Report of the Librarian, Mr. H. Macaskill During the year, Ministerial approval has been given to requests from Auckland and Wellington Public Libraries and from the Christchurch and Suburban Public Schools Library Association for loans of books to extend and improve the service to schools in these cities. The children in these groups of schools have now available to them the full range of stock through the request service.

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By arrangement with the Taranaki Education Board, an office was opened in New Plymouth where service to Taranaki schools is now carried out. The Borough Councils of Hastings and Invercargill have agreed to their libraries being the distributing centres for schools in Central Hawke's Bay and Southland respectively. Distribution is now carried out from fourteen centres —North Island : Hastings, Napier, Wanganui, and Whangarei Public Libraries, offices of Country Library Service in Auckland and Palmerston North, and National Library Service, Wellington ; South Island : Dunedin, Greymouth, Invercargill, and Timaru Public Libraries and offices of the Country Library Service in Christchurch and Nelson.

The considerable expansion in the request and information service shown by the figures below indicates an increasing desire of teachers and children for access to a wider range of books: —

Requests unfulfilled were either unobtainable or beyond the scope of the Service. Loan collections of books on special topics have been more in demand, and have been despatched as follows : Number of loan collections .. . . . . . . 261 Number of books sent .. .. . . .. .. 10,996 A booklet containing the essential information for the organization of a school library has been printed and distributed to the larger schools. A select and annotated list of junior fiction published in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand since 1940 has been compiled and is being printed. These phases of school library work— i.e., request service, loan collections, and bibliographical work —have been made possible only by the increase in trained staff, and it says much for the ability and training of the New Zealand Library School graduates on the staff that the demands of schools have been met in this way. POST-PBIMARY SCHOOLS One hundred and two post-primary schools (including 4 registered private schools and 3 Maori district high schools) were visited. Schools have stated that this is a most useful form of assistance, as all aspects of school library work can be discussed on the spot. Visits have been regrettably short, but it is hoped that longer periods at schools which are ready for library development, and would benefit by trained advice, will be possible next year. Ninety loan collections totalling 3,574 books were sent out in response to requests from post-primary schools or young people's sections of public libraries. Schools with limited resources have been able to profit from this service by receiving a representative range of material on specific subjects or by adding considerably to their stocks of recreational reading. These loans have been of particular advantage to district high schools, whose book stock is often inadequate. A booklet on planning a school library has been prepared for distribution to all post-primary schools, Education Boards, and other interested persons and is at present at the printers. Two book lists of recent fiction and non-fiction are in process of compilation, but the many calls on staff time have delayed their completion.

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— 1949. 1950. Books sent on request Requests unfulfilled 11,453 565 28,883 832

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Several requests have been made by schools for help in reorganizing their libraries, but unfortunately, owing to other duties, it has been possible to carry out only one of these requests. Correspondence School School Library Service staff carried out the reorganization of the Education Department's Correspondence School library. Library service to the primary pupils of this school is now given from nine of the distributing centres of the School Library Service and a member of the staff has been seconded to the Correspondence School to carry out service to the post-primary pupils and to deal with staff requests. The Correspondence School book stock for these purposes has been greatly augmented by long-term loans from this Service. This great increase in request, loan-collection work, and service to public libraries and Correspondence School pupils has been difficult to accomplish satisfactorily because of inadequate accommodation.

Below are tables showing details of the School Library Service at 31st March, 1950 :

Additions to stock were 65,506 fiction and 25,845 non-fiction. Withdrawals were 10,492 fiction and 2,265 non-fiction. The stock now stands at 368,238 of which 244,757 are fiction and 123,481 non-fiction : —■

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Education Boards. Served* Children (Standard Classes). Auckland 548 53,674 Canterbury 252 12,636 Hawke's Bay 154 10,713 Nelson 83 5,711 Otago 134 5,868 Southland . . 156 6,900 Taranaki 116 8,839 Wanganui . . 160 11,383 Wellington .. 172 14,877 Education Departmei it— Correspondence School 1,119 Special groups 34 798 Maori schools 116 7,265 Child Welfare 19 772 Private schools 110 8,521 Island schools 3 582 2,058 149,657

Books. Fiction. Non-fiction. Total. Stock at 31st March, 1949 Accessions 189,743 65,506 99,901 25,845 289,644 91,351 Withdrawals 255,249 10,492 125,746 2,265 380,995 12,757 Stock at 31st March, 1950 244,757 123.481 368,238

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SECTION lI—LIBRARY SCHOOL Report by the Director, Noba Bateson This year the Library School completed the 1949 professional course. The professional course for 1950 is in progress, and in January-February a short course was held for librarians of small libraries. 1949 PROFESSIONAL COURSE At the end of this course 16 diplomas and 5 certificates were awarded to the 21 students who had taken the course. As in other years, the majority of students entered various branches of the National Library Service, University libraries, and special libraries. The National Library Service is still inadequately staffed for the bibliographical work of the National Library Centre as well as for the tasks (primary tasks in relation to the general reading public of the country) of selecting, acquiring, and distributing books through the vans to the smaller libraries and meeting the increasingly heavy demands made on it by public libraries through individual requests and loan collections. Requests alone have increased from 1,432 (year ending 1941) to 36,139 (year ending 1950), with an annual increase for the last few years averaging 26 per cent. The number of students going into the School Section has made it possible to send out some of the staff to schools to explain and interpret the service and to bring it into closer relation to the needs of teachers and children. While many students are attracted to work in the National Library Service, there are many whose choice would be for work in a public library in direct contact with the users of books. Salaries for many public library positions are still too low to attract qualified people, and where salaries are reasonably good there is often a preference for experience rather than educational standing. If the public library, whatever its size, is to be what it should be, the educational centre of its community where interests are discovered, anticipated, and fostered so far as books can do this, then it must have librarians with the education, training, skill, and interest which this important work demands. COURSE FOR LIBRARIANS OF SMALL LIBRARIES A short course for librarians of small public libraries was held from 11th January to 3rd February, 1950, 15 librarians attending. Librarians were from the following public libraries : Blenheim Otaki Geraldine Raetihi Inglewood Tauranga Lower Hutt (Moera Branch) Te Karaka Mangakino Waipukurau Oamaru Whangarei (2) as well as a librarian from the Army Education Welfare Service and a Field Librarian, Country Library Service, Christchurch. The course was conducted by the staff of the Library School with the assistance of members of the National Library Service staff and several special lecturers. In addition to lectures there were visits to libraries, and several hours were, as in previous courses, set aside for the informal discussion of problems and special questions raised by students. Members of the Library School and National Library Service staffs took part in these discussions.

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1950 PROFESSIONAL COURSE The course opened on 13th February, 1950, with 16 students approved by the Minister of Education, 13 having a Bachelor's or Master's degree in arts and 2 librarians holding the New Zealand Library Association's General Training Certificate. The Library School is greatly indebted, as in previous years, to the subject specialists, librarians, and members of the National Library Service staff who give lectures and to those libraries which answer our many calls for books. We shall always have to rely on the generosity of other libraries for older books, but we need to build up a permanent collection of our own. Lack of space, which hampers our work in many ways, prevents us from acquiring more than the irreducible minimum collection. SECTION lII—NATIONAL LIBRARY CENTRE Report by the Librarian, Mr. A. G. Bagnall Work has continued throughout the year on bibliographical publications and projects carried out by the National Centre in association with the Book Resources Committee of the New Zealand Library Association. UNION LIST OF SERIALS Preparation of the Union List of Serials for publication continues. During the year many outstanding library holdings of serials were included, the following being completed with the assistance of National Centre staff or by Library School students undertaking the work as a bibliographical project: The Royal Society of New Zealand ; the Royal Society (Wellington Branch) ; the Polynesian Society ; the Cawthron Institute ; the Head Office library of the Department of Agriculture and the Census and Statistics Department. As the result of a request for assistance in publication by the New Zealand Library Association, the Government has undertaken the responsibility of publishing the Union List, and Cabinet approval for the necessary expenditure, the greater part of which is recoverable, has been given. It was decided, that before printing commenced, the typed copy should be circulated to the major libraries for final checking. Typing from the cards and checking has commenced. UNION CATALOGUE During the year 26,373 cards were added to the Union Catalogue, a record number of additions. A start has been made with the photographing of library catalogues to enable titles accessioned before 1941 to be included, using the equipment donated to the New Zealand Library Association by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The Yictoria University College catalogue and the catalogue of the Central Library. Wellington Public Libraries, have so far been done. As soon as staff is available it is planned to copy the Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin catalogues. When this stage has been completed, the catalogue will record the non-fiction holdings of the major New Zealand libraries, enabling the supply of titles requested on inter-library loan to be decentralized and to operate more efficiently. INDEX TO NEW ZEALAND PERIODICALS The 1948 Index to New Zealand Periodicals, prepared by the National Centre and published by the New Zealand Library Association, was issued at the end of 1949. Printing of the 1949 Index has commenced. The 1941-1946 cumulation was also issued in December, 1949, so that there is now a nine-year coverage available for New Zealand periodicals. Entries from over 50 current periodicals were included in the 1949 Index.

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CENTKAL CATALOGUING Cards for 255 New Zealand books and pamphlets were distributed during the year to 25 New Zealand and 11 overseas libraries. The cards have been available in printed form since September, 1949. INTEE-LIBRAEY LOAN The number of requests for material on inter-library loan required by New Zealand libraries through the National Library Service has continued to increase. When checking of the Union List of Serials by libraries and the photographing of library catalogues have been completed, it is hoped that the system will operate more speedily, with a considerable saving of time by all libraries concerned with the production and checking of the weekly inter-library loan request sheet. •

BOOK KESOUKCES The following are the figures for inter-loan requests handled by the National Library Service during the last two financial years :

The total number of books ordered covers those works not found in New Zealand which are thought to be of sufficient importance to justify their acquisition by the National Library Service as its contribution to the coverage plan of the New Zealand Library Association.

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1048 -49. 194S -50. Number. Percentage. Number. Percentage, Number of inter-loan cards received 5,493 100-0 6,597 100-0 Supplied from National Library iService Supplied from other Wellington libraries Supplied from Union Catalogue records Supplied from Check List of serials Items previously on Book Resources Items held over for further checking Items cancelled by requesting library Rejected as outside scope of inter-loan Referred back for further information Listed on Book Resources 3,071 419 439 91 77 41 4 100 136 1,115 55-9 7-6 8-0 1-7 1-4 0-7 0-1 1-8 2-5 20-3 3,428 363 451 191 97 67 17 83 192 1,708 52-0 5-5 6-8 2-9 1-5 1-0 0-3 1-2 2-9 25-9 5,493 100-0 6,597 100-0 Total number of items listed on Book Resources — Inter-loan requests listed on Book Resources Items referred back and reported missing, later listed on Book Resources Items requested by National Library Service 1,115 1,056 143 48-2 45-6 6-2 1,119 1,370 95 43-3 53-0 3-7 Total listed 2,314 100-0 2,584 100-0 Items located through Book Resources Items not located and ordered for national stock 714 575 30-9 633 642 24-5

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CENTRAL BUREAU FOR LIBRARY BOOK IMPORTS At the request of the New Zealand Library Association, representations were made to extend the granting of block licence to libraries serving a population of 20,000 and over. Eight libraries which had hitherto been recommended for special licence on individual orders were granted block licence facilities by the Comptroller of Customs. This change is reflected in the figures for recommendations :

UNITED STATES INFORMATION SERVICES The library resources of the country continue to receive valuable accessions of strength by books and periodicals received through the United States Information Services. This material, which is recorded as United States Information Library stock, is available as before from the National Library Service. Thirty-one new periodicals were recently added to the list of those currently received by this channel. BOOK RESOURCES COMMITTEE Two meetings of the Book Resources Committee were held during the year. The Committee, acting in an advisory capacity on the work of the National Centre, made recommendations on the bibliographical and other projects outlined above. Other matters dealt with included the indexing and microfilming of New Zealand newspapers and the inquiry on library specialization in New Zealand which is still in progress.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (879 eopies), £42 10s.

By Authority: B. E. Owen, Government Printer, Wellington.—1950.

Price 6d.\

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— 1948-49. 1949-50. Block licence— United Kingdom United States £ 5,654 1,324 £ 2,914 1,493 £6,978 £4,407 Special licence— United Kingdom United States Other countries £ 12,177 9,975 1,812 £ 21,918 7,573 2,008 £23,964 £31,499