H—32

The new accessions were classified as follows, the figures for last year being given in parentheses: Bibliography, 227 (316); newspapers, 159 (173); philosophy, 26 (61) ; religion, 129 (135); sociology, 1,293 (1,403) ; parliamentary, 251 (418); philology, 42 (48); natural science, 233 (194); useful arts, 552 (600) ; fine arts, 346 (377) ; literature, 325 (447) ; travel and history, 672 (673); biography, 283 (353); fiction, 373 (406). In addition to cataloguing the above, the cataloguing staff has completed the reclassification of the New Zealand travel and history sections. Reference Department The reference staff has served not only Members of Parliament and Government Departments, but the public of New Zealand generally. Requests for information come to us not only by telephone, but by letter from all parts of New Zealand and from abroad, and numerous letters of appreciation have been received. Statistics show that, apart from inquiries which can be answered offhand, 1,389 inquiries needing research on the part of the staff were answered during the year. Of these, 392 required less than five minutes each, 555 took from five to fifteen minutes' work, and 442 took more than fifteen minutes' research. Sixty-eight students have used the Library during the year for research purposes. This is nearly double last year's total of thirty-five, and at times the accommodation for them has been severely taxed. As the Library has resources which cannot be found elsewhere in New Zealand, we are anxious at all times to give the serious student the maximum of assistance. Donations I wish to acknowledge, with thanks, donations to the Library from the following: East African Commissioner (London), Reprint Society, Ltd. (London), Belgian Legation (Wellington), High Commissioner for United Kingdom (Wellington), New Zealand Federation of Young People's Clubs (Wellington), British Council (London), Town Clerk (Brisbane), Danish Consul (Wellington), Commonwealth Economic Committee (London), Mrs. R. C. Smyth (Huntly), A.E.W.S. (Wellington), The Times (London), E. Field (Letchworth, Herts.), Library of Parliament (Cape Town), Alexander Turnbull Library (Wellington), Legation of the U.S.S.R. (Wellington), Netherlands Legation (Wellington), I. H. Flamm (Chicago), R. M. Campbell (Wellington), Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Ltd. (Stoke-on-Trent), United Commercial Travellers' Association (Melbourne), Natal University College Library (Durban), Miss E. Pomerov (Toronto), National Library of Scotland (Edinburgh), Town Clerk (Adelaide), High Commissioner for Canada (Wellington), Lands and Survey Department (Wellington). R. J. Campagnolo (Wellington), A. L. Brewer (Glen dale, California), J. A. Vaughan (Nelson), J. N. Casavis (Astoria, N.Y.), First Church of Christ Scientist (Wellington), Mrs. D. KingSpencer (Gisborne), Strathearn Gordon (London), and R. Lloyd Jones (La Jolla, California). Circulation * There has been a further increase in the number of recess privilege holders, the total this year reaching 650, as compared with 484 last year. Statistics show that 23,452 books were issued during the year. Eighty-one baskets and 74 parcels were posted to Members and 251 parcels to other libraries. Altogether 907 books were lent to 34 libraries under the inter-loan arrangements, including 368 to the National Library Service and 260 to the Library School. Our borrowings from other libraries numbered 38.

2