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SECTION lII—NATIONAL LIBRARY CENTRE Report by the Librarian : Mr. A. G. Bagnall Work on bibliographical, inter-loan, and book coverage projects designed to make the best use of New Zealand's library resources has continued throughout the year. A summary of activity under various headings is as follows : CENTRAL CATALOGUING The preparation and distribution of catalogue cards for New Zealand books and pamphlets has continued. For the calendar year 1948 duplicated catalogue cards for 256 titles were distributed to 25 New Zealand and 10 overseas libraries. Cards for a further 28 titles had been distributed by the end of March, 1949. It is still hoped to have the cards printed when the printing situation improves. INDEX TO NEW ZEALAND PERIODICALS The 1947 Index to New Zealand Periodicals, prepared by the National Centre and published by the New Zealand Library Association, was issued at the end of 1948. The 1948 Index is ready for printing. It is hoped to have the 1941-1946 cumulation published and distributed by the end of 1949. UNION LIST OF SERIALS The Union List of serials, a card record of the holdings of serial publications in New Zealand libraries, was commenced in 1939 by the New Zealand Library Association, Mr. John Harris, Librarian, Otago University, being appointed compiler. A Check List of holdings notified to date was issued in 1942 primarily to enable libraries to check holdings and report omissions and additions, and a selected Supplement was published in 1945. Work has continued steadily since that time, Mr. Harris having from January, 1946, until February, 1949, the assistance of a seconded member of National Centre staff. On Mr. Harris's departure from New Zealand, responsibility for maintaining the Union List of serials, by decision of the Book Resources Committee, was assumed by the National Centre. The Union List was received by the Centre in March, 1949. The urgent need of a new edition of the Check List has been felt for some time, and in 1948 the New Zealand Library Association decided that a new edition should be prepared. While the responsibility for publication rests with the Association (as in the case of Index to New Zealand periodicals), the Centre is committed to undertake the editorial work necessary,, which a preliminary survey shows will take at least six months. A decision of the Association in May, 1949, that the new edition be printed if possible, to which end Government finance, if necessary, be obtained, emphasizes the need for as full a record of library holdings as possible in the time available. Many important library holdings,, including those of the more important Government Departments, have still to be included.. UNION CATALOGUE During the year, 17,766 cards were added to the Union Catalogue. The microfilm equipment given to the New Zealand Library Association by the Carnegie Corporation of New York has arrived, and plans have been approved for the photo-copying of the library catalogues of the major public, University, and special libraries. The technical procedure to be followed will, as far as possible, follow that worked out in the compilation of the Philadelphia and Denver regional Union Catalogues. The main card for a particular title accessioned before 1941 in the case of libraries reporting to the Union Catalogue since that date will be copied on microfilm and ultimately checked against and included in the Union Catalogue. In the short term, however, the film record of library catalogues will be most useful in that form for checking inter-loan requests and so avoid

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