IT—32A

The table below shows the state of the School Library Service at 31st March, 1947: '*'■ - •*' • .' ■' ■ t, : . <

HOSPITAL AND INSTITUTIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE With the 'appointment to the staff of a graduate trained in hospital library work at the University; of . Minnesota, a survey of the existing facilities of libraries in hospitals has been begun. Since the New Zealand Library Association's questionnaire to Hospital Boards in 1945, it has been realized that libraries for patients are not yet established in all hospitals of the country. Of existing libraries, few reach the standards agreed on by ■overseas hospital librarians! and hospital administrators as the minimum. The provision of adequate hospital library service can best be done by the free public libraries of" the country, following the example given by Du'nedin, Timaru, Greymouth, and Tauranga Public Libraries. Service through the public library means that sufficient books of the right type can be provided for all patients, that request and interloan service can be .supplied, and that modern developments in hospital libraries can be aimed at. As a start in promoting the spread of. hospital libraries, • assistance in the form of books and advice in organizing hospital library service will be offered bv National Library Service to free public libraries in the smaller boroughs which undertake service to hospital patients. The administration of this library service will bei carried out locally, either by the local public librarian, or by a committee in cases where help in circillation of books is given by voluntary organizations such. as the Red Cross Society. The Committee on Hospital Libraries of the New Zealand Library Association is to consider the compilation of a book-list for use in hospital libraries. One prison and one Borstal institution have now received collections of books, which will be (exchanged three times a year. Selection is suited to the special needs of inmates. Request service also is', made available. A similar service is to be extended to all .prisons. BOOK STOCK During the year additions to stock were 53,297 vokimes—l9,93o fiction and 33,367 non-fiction. Withdrawals were 3,794 —3,313 fiction and 481 nonfiction—making net, additions 49,503. The adult stock of the Service now stands at 208,068, made up of 76,958 fiction and 131,110 non-fiction. At 31st March, 1947, stock of the children's section was 151,568, making a grand total of all stock of 359,636 volumes. Difficulty in obtaining books from

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Education Boards. Schools served. Children (Standard Classes). Books on Issue at One Time (excluding those in Transit). Auckland 416 35,615 36,156 Canterbury Hawke's Bay 216 10,178 11,026 110 „ 6,975' 7,303 Nelson 64 3,637 3,864 Qtago .. .. 155 7,361 10,791 Southland 84 3,.507 3,706 Taranaki 34 2,268 2,324 Wanganui 149 7,185 7,791 Wellington 125 8,500 9,005 • 1,353 85,226 91,966