H.—32

1919. NEW ZEALAND.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1918-19.

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

The Chief Librarian to the Chairman of the Joint Library Committee. Sir, — 1 have the honour to submit the following report for the year 1918-19 : — Recess Library Committee. The Recess Library Committee, under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Sir William Hall-Jones, K.C.M.G., M.L.C., held five meetings during the recess. Lists of books suggested for order wore brought before the Committee by the Chief Librarian, and duly considered. Auditions to the Library. The Accessions Register for the year 1918-19 shows that during the period 25th June, 1918, to 20th June, 1919, the number of catalogued accessions was 2,326. This compares favourably with the record of accessions for the immediately preceding Library year, the number for that period being 2,057. As was the case in the previous year, the number of accessions was affected by the suspension of supplies of British Imperial and American Government exchanges, but, on the other hand, the number of new books —outside official publications —is considerably higher. Between 20th June and 18th August, 1919, 426 additional volumes were catalogued, making a grand total of 2,752 entries, which must, under the circumstances, be considered very satisfactory. The number of books on the Library registers now stands at 97,483, so that the hope expressed in last year's report —namely, that the total will stand in 1920 at 100,000—is in a fair way of being realized, In 1901, when the present Chief Librarian took charge, the total was 36,803. Members will recognize, I hope, that due attention has been paid, in the ordering of new books for the Library .during the year, to literature dealing with post-war problems of various kinds. Special attention has also been given to technology, in which class, as under the head of sociology, many important and valuable publications have been acquired. The Staff. In February last Mr, Joha.nnes C. Andersen, who had been a member of the Library staff for some two years, resigned his position in the Library, having been appointed librarian of the Turnbull Library. Mr. Andersen's cultured literary taste, unremitting zeal and industry, had made him a most valuable member of the staff. In December last Mr. P. H. McColl, who had spent two years in the service of his country and its Empire on the western front, where he was twice wounded, returned to his old position on the staff of the Library. Mr. P. B. Forrest, another returned and wounded soldier, has joined the staff as messenger, in place of Mr. W. F. Johnson, who has been promoted to assistant rank. Recess Privileges. The number of permits issued to privilege-holders was .481, being a decrease of 167 as compared with the total for the previous year—namely, 647. The 1917-18 recess was, however, of exceptional