H.—32

1914. NEW ZEALAND

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY. REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1913-14.

Laid an ///<■ Table by Leave of the House.

The Chief Librarian to the Chairman of the Joint Library Committee. Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith the following report for the year 1913-14: — Recess Library Committee. The Recess Library Committee, under the chairmanship of the Hon. .). Kigg, M.L.C., held four meetings during the recess. Lists of books suggested for order were brought forward by the Chief Librarian and duly considered. Recess Privileges. The number of privilege permits issued to non-members dining the recess was 439, as against 478 in 11M2 [3 and 462 in 1911-12. The number of volumes lent to ordinary recess-privilege holders was 3,642. This number does not include the volumes issued to persons whose names are on the full-privi-lege list, such as the Governor's staff, the Judges, and the officers of the House. No fiction was issued save to persons on the full-privilege list. The classes of works mainly favoured by privilege-holders were biography, voyages and travels, history, science, poetry and essays, in the above order. Additions to the Library. The Accessions List for the year 11112-13, copies of which have been issued to members of both Houses, includes all books and other publications added to the Library and catalogued during the period 13th June. 1913, to the 6th June, 1914, the number being 2,652, as against 2,647 for a slightly longer period last year. From the 6th June to the 28th July, the date of the report, 580 additional entries have been made in the Accession Register, making the total number of accessions for the period 13th June, 1913. to 28th July, 1914, 3,232. A glance through the pages of the Accessions List will show that a large number of very important works in all classes of literature have been added to the Library. In the 3(K) class, which, under the general heading of " Sociology," includes works on education, constitutional history, law, finance, statistics, political economy, and legislative questions generally, it will be seen thai t lie additions were exceptionally interest ing. As a result of the Chief Librarian's attendance at an auction sale (held at Auckland last year) a large number of works on the early history of New Zealand generally were added to the Library. .Most of t liese figure in the " New Zealand History " and "New Zealand Descriptive " classes. Others are distributed amongst the classes to which they belong. Amongst the items purchased at the sale in question were several old and rare \ew Zealand newspapers, publications of the early missionary press, <.te. The Stafk and its Work. The unusual length of last year's session trenched a little upon the time available for the technical work of the Library, which has to be mainly carried out during the recess. The contents of the Library were, however, thoroughly overhauled, and certain slight changes in the disposition of books in some of the classes, rendered necessary by large additions to such classes, were effected. During my annual vacation 1 visited the Carnegie Free Library at Dunedin, the Free Library at Christchurch. and the Auckland Free Library, and conferred with the librarians of the three institutions, Messrs. McEwen. Bell, and Barr, on various matters pertaining to library management and equipment. As a result of my visit I hope to establish a system of exchange of duplicates which will, I think, prove mutually advantageous and useful. I have to thank the gentlemen above named for their courteous assistance on several points of interest.