Part 1

Produced by Jonathan Ah Kit, Mark C. Orton, New Zealand Parliamentary Library and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

H. 32

REPORT OF THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 1958

(SPECIAL CENTENNIAL ISSUE)

_Presented to the House of Representatives by Leave_

BY AUTHORITY: R. E. OWEN, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND--1958

CONTENTS

Page

Year's Work 3 Acquisitions 3 Copyright Deposit 4 Microfilming 4 Bindery 4 Use of the Library 5 Reference Inquiries 5 International Exchange 5 Library Fund Account: Statement 6

APPENDIX

LIBRARY SERVICE TO PARLIAMENT 1858-1958

Beginnings 7 1860-1870 8 1870-1900 9 Early Librarians 12 Twentieth Century 14 Copyright Deposit 15 Librarians 16 Fire and Fire Insurance 17 General 18 Circulation of Books 18 Fiction 19 Inter-library Loan 19 Recess Privileges 19 The National Library 20 The Library as a Museum 20 Purchase of Books 20 Aims of the Library 22 Books and Men 23

To the CHAIRMAN, LIBRARY COMMITTEE.

Sir,

I have the honour to report on the activities of the General Assembly Library for the year 1957-58.

The year 1958 marks the end of the first century of the Library's existence, I have thought it a good opportunity to tell briefly the history of the Library during the period in an appendix to this report.

THE YEAR'S WORK

Staff changes have not been as great during the past year, though Mr C. B. Newick resigned to go overseas and there were four other resignations and appointments. Fortunately these did not greatly affect the senior staff.

Routine work has mainly occupied the staff though stock was taken of class 500 (science) and 600 (useful arts). A few books were missing but losses are not serious.

During the year the new circulation counter was erected in the lobby downstairs. Not only does it improve the appearance of the area, but the change has enabled proper oversight to be given over those leaving the Library. The new books are now placed in the room next to my office and are immediately available to members.

ACQUISITIONS

Once again the Library has to record its thanks to the many individuals and organisations for their kindness in presenting large numbers of books and periodicals. All have received letters of thanks, but once again we should like to express our thanks to those concerned for so much material that might otherwise not reach the Library. This year one donation was of such value and importance that it must be specially mentioned. It was the gift of 350 books by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. This collection has been specially selected to portray United States life and to explain its origins. It has proved exceedingly popular and has added many fine books on the United States to the Library. The Library is grateful to the Corporation for its generosity in presenting the collection.

During the year 8,375 books were catalogued and added to the collections, compared with 7,650 during 1956-57. They were classed as follows, the figures in parentheses being those for the previous year: general works, 370 (420); newspapers, 238 (156); philosophy, 73 (67); religion, 375 (414); sociology, 2,413 (2,275); parliamentary papers, 332 (423); philology, 56 (47); natural sciences, 393 (331); useful arts, 1,023 (847); fine arts, 333 (312); literature, 440 (320); history and travel, 1,099 (1,107); biography, 506 (421); fiction, 724 (510). Total accessions now number 247,825.

A better guide to the stocks of the Library is the estimate prepared in connection with the census of libraries being held this year. A quick count of the books on 1 April 1958 gave a total of 240,450, plus 65,960 pamphlets and 18,860 maps. The figure for pamphlets is, I believe, slightly exaggerated as many are little more than single sheets and others now listed as several pamphlets will eventually be made into a single bound volume.

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT

Every attempt continues to be made to ensure that all material coming within the terms of the Act is deposited and preserved. During the year an inquiry was held into the Copyright Act and evidence was given on deposit and on some minor changes of the law that are needed.

Copyright receipts were issued during 1957 for 961 items, that is for books, pamphlets, and first issues of periodicals other than those issued by Government Departments, an increase from 778 in 1956. In addition 193 annual reports, 78 yearbooks and almanacs, 149 bulletins, 163 school magazines, and 260 local body balance sheets were received. In view of the deposit of this latter material in the Library it is no longer thought necessary for it to be laid on the table of the House.

Further details relating to publishing in New Zealand are given in the following table:

+----+--+---+---+----+--+--+---+---+---+---+--+---+----- |G W |P |R |S |P P |P |S |U A|F A|G L|H T|B |M |T |e o |h |e |o |a a |h |c |s r|i r|e i|i r|i |a |o |n r |i |l |c |r p |i |i |e t|n t|n t|s a|o |p |t |e k |l |i |i |l e |l |e |f s|e s|e e|t v|g |s |a |r s |o |g |o |i r |o |n |u | |r r|o e|r | |l |a |s |i |l |a s |l |c |l | |a a|r l|a | | |l |o |o |o |m |o |e | | |l t|y |p | | | |p |n |g |e e |g | | | | u| |h | | | |h | |y |n t |y | | | | r|a |y | | | |y | | |t c | | | | | e|n | | | | | | | |a . | | | | | |d | | | | | | | |r | | | | | | | | | | | | | |y | | | | | | | | | --------------+----+--+---+---+----+--+--+---+---+---+---+--+---+----- Commercial-- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Books | 2 | 5| 28| 74| | 1| 9| 71|21 |18 |43 10| | 282 Pamphlets | 7 | 2|121| 95| | |15| 46|13 |15 |19 | 7| | 340 Maps | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30| 30 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Government | | | | | | | | | | | | | | publications--| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Books | 4 | | | 29|118 | 2|15|13 | 2 | | 4 | | | 187 Pamphlets | | | | 56|233 | 1|10|72 | 9 | 1 | 3 | | | 385 Maps | | | | | | | | | | | |105| 105 +----+--+---+---+----+--+--+---+---+---+---+--+---+----- Total |13 | 7|149|254|351 | 4|49|202|45 |34 |69 17|135|1,329 --------------+----+--+---+---+----+--+--+---+---+---+---+--+---+-----

During 1956, 272 books, 284 pamphlets, and 4 maps were issued by commercial publishers, while 107 books, 312 pamphlets, and 120 maps were issued by Government Departments. This gave a total of 1,099 items.

MICROFILMING

The microfilming of newspapers continues. During the year 31,900 ft of film were added to the New Zealand newspaper collection and 10,000 ft to the other series.

BINDERY

As in the past the bindery has proved a valuable and economical section of the Library. The campaign to enforce the deposit provisions of the Copyright Act has shown in the bindery's work and during the year 4,662 books were bound before being placed on the shelves and 470 volumes were rebound. Included in the latter were some volumes of newspapers, for many originally bound in leather have needed repair. They are rebound in canvas, a material which should wear much better than today's leather does.

USE OF THE LIBRARY

Twenty-eight thousand two hundred and nine books were borrowed from the Library in the year under review, compared with 27,462 in the previous year. Of these 494 were sent to libraries other than those of Government Departments through the New Zealand Library Association interloan scheme. The Library in its turn borrowed 23 books from other libraries under the same scheme.

In addition to members of Parliament, some thousand people have access to the Library and enjoy borrowing privileges of one kind or another.

REFERENCE INQUIRIES

Once again there has been an increase in the reference questions to which the Library staff has had to attend. One thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven inquiries were made, an increase of 322 over the previous year. Of these, 563 were answered in less than five minutes, 569 took between five and 15 minutes, and the remainder, 645, took over 15 minutes to answer. This statement of times does not record the fact that many of the inquiries took much longer than 15 minutes. Indeed some had several days spent on them by one or more members of the reference staff. Such questions are not answered by merely marking a passage in a book or two; they require the material to be abstracted and rewritten ready for use by the member making the inquiry. This service is becoming increasingly popular with members who cannot themselves afford the time needed to do all the research involved.

Seventy-eight new research students registered for the first time during the year, the largest number yet to have done so in any one year. Some are university students working on theses; others are engaged on research for publication. The use of the Library in this way shows how valuable its resources are for many students.

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE

Twenty-four cases were received by the Library for its own use during the year, while 5,823 packets were received from abroad, 3,685 being posted, the remainder being forwarded by Internal Affairs messenger.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I should once again like to thank the Library Committee for its great help and interest, and in particular to thank the former Speaker and Chairman of the Committee, who has recently retired, for his invaluable assistance in Library matters. We are also indebted to the overseas agents of the New Zealand Government in many countries for their aid in obtaining books. They have helped considerably in adding many valuable books to the Library.

I am also grateful to the Assistant Chief Librarian, Mr Jess, and the staff for their loyal and efficient service.

Attached is the statement of receipts and expenditure of the General Assembly Library Fund Account, together with the Auditor-General's certificate.

I am, etc.,

J. O. WILSON, Chief Librarian.

Inset

GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY FUND ACCOUNT

STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 1958

_Receipts_ _Payments_

Balance, Bank of New Zealand, £ s. d.|Purchase of books, etc.-- £ s. d. 1 April 1957 293 13 1 | United Kingdom 2,419 16 11 Annual grant 4,500 0 0 | U.S.A. and Canada 960 0 2 Refunds, lost books 5 6 8 | Australia 64 11 5 Sales 52 4 4 | New Zealand 1,145 3 1 Private Bill fees 300 0 0 | Other 16 2 11 |Bank charges and cheque | book 1 10 0 |Balance at Bank of New | Zealand, 31 March | 1958, £1,456 4s. 7d., less | unpresented cheques, | £912 5s. 543 19 7 ----------- | ------------ £5,151 4 1 | £5,151 4 1 =========== | ============

J. O. WILSON, Chief Librarian.

Examined and found correct--A. D. BURNS, Assistant Controller and Auditor-General.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIBRARY LIBRARY SERVICE TO PARLIAMENT 1858-1958

THE BEGINNINGS

Today there are few legislatures without a library of some kind. Parliament works best when its members are well briefed and have access to good sources of information. The shortest speech often requires the verification of facts to be found in books, and the most economical and satisfactory solution is a library. The General Assembly of New Zealand, to give Parliament its more correct title, was not long in deciding this. It met first in 1854 and again in 1855 without a library. At the beginning of the session of 1856, however, the need seems to have been evident for on 6 June Mr W. T. L. Travers from Waimea moved in the House that a library should at once be formed, and a Select Committee set up to consider the best means of establishing one. Three weeks later the Legislative Council followed suit with a similar motion, though here it is interesting to note that Dr Richardson stated that the Councillors had been using the library of the Attorney-General.

The Assembly shared its meeting place with the Auckland Provincial Council, which had in 1853 formed its own library. It was decided that it would be to the advantage of both legislatures to possess a joint library, and on the motion of the chairman the Council was approached to find if it had any objections. The Council did not have any, and in addition offered to provide the librarian and an equal grant for books as well as fittings if the Assembly would provide a room.

On 28 July 1856 the report was laid on the tables of the two Houses, a list of books for purchase given to the Speakers, and a recommendation made that the sum of £100 be placed on the estimates for books. The money was voted, after which Parliament was adjourned, not to meet again until 1858.

The Committee was once again set up, and the situation was such that once again the terms of reference were to consider the best means of establishing a library. The books ordered in 1856, principally on legal and constitutional matters, were there branded "General Assembly" but they were not a library; members had to rely largely on the Provincial Council collection which comprised nine-tenths of the total books available. In its report, the Committee suggested that £300 be devoted to library purposes, and recommended a list of books to be purchased even if they cost more than the £320 available--£20 had not been spent in 1856.

The Committee was not happy about the joint Library, but as matters stood thought it hardly desirable to end the arrangement. It was, however, of the opinion that as soon as practicable the Library should be placed on an independent footing.

To ensure that its recommendations were carried out, and to control and report on the work of the Library, the Committee suggested that an officer, the Librarian of the General Assembly, should be appointed. This was done and the first Librarian was Major F. E. Campbell, the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Two other matters also were considered of sufficient moment to be mentioned. One was the supply of newspapers that had been cancelled as the Government had promised to supply files from Government offices. The other was the acquisition of British Government publications, which would be of great value to the Library. The Committee noted the successful approach of the Canadian Parliamentary Librarian to the British Government and proposed that either Mr J. E. Fitzgerald, who was in England, or the Colonial Agent should be asked to see if the Library could not be given such documents.

Once again two years elapsed before Parliament met again, and the Librarian reported that there were now books, separated from the Provincial Council Library, but in an adjoining room. The approaches to the British Government had not been entirely fruitful, but there was promise of success.

1860-1870

The Library now possessed books and a librarian and the next 10 years were to be amongst the most adventurous of the Library's story. However, they began quietly when in 1861 the Committee recommended the appointment of a permanent messenger for the Library instead of a sessional one.

Next year the session was held in Wellington in the Provincial Council Chambers. A case of books was sent for use of members. Unfortunately it was lost when the _White Swan_ carrying the Governor and Auckland members was wrecked near Castlepoint. The published list gives 50 books, mainly reference works on constitutional and economic matters, but the greater loss was that of the House, which was deprived of not only its documentary records but also most of the early printed papers. The Committee, nothing daunted, recommended that the books be replaced and used the mishap to have the vote raised to £500 for the year.

The sessions of 1863 and 1864 were both held in Auckland. In the latter year the Librarian was instructed to prepare cases so that the books could be moved to Wellington along with the other Government records.

Parliament took over the old Provincial Council Chambers in Wellington but they were enlarged to meet its requirements. The Library had a new home built specially for it costing £1,800 which was, with extensions, to provide an uneasy resting place for the next 35 years. In one paper the new library was described as "a very lofty handsome building with large painted windows". In another, "The Library is a fine room, handsomely decorated and the walls are fitted with bookshelves." It was of wood.

Details about the administration of the Library during the early years are few, but it appears that the Committee was undoubtedly the mainspring of the organisation. It contained men such as Carleton, Fitzherbert, Travers, and Domett, to mention only the best known, who were interested not only in the Library for its own sake but also in the part it could play in parliamentary affairs and in providing pleasure to members.

The Committee was responsible for book selection, carried out mainly during the session. While control over the Library in the recess lay with representatives of the House and Council, from the first H. F. Carleton, Chairman of Committees of the House, and a classical scholar, was responsible for seeing the books were obtained and that the funds were expended.

Until 1861 the only assistance in the Library was provided by a sessional messenger, but a full-time sub-librarian was provided from 1862. When Parliament moved to Wellington different arrangements were necessary and in 1866 the Committee suggested that a permanent librarian should be appointed. It was thought necessary to have somebody for the custody of a collection increasing in value from year to year. The House disagreed with this view, but perhaps with the hope of making the way clear for such appointment Major Campbell had given up his responsibility for the Library.

This left a gap which appears to have been filled by the Hon. Alfred Domett. As in addition to being a Legislative Councillor, he was Secretary for Crown Lands, Land Claims Commissioner, and Registrar-General he cannot have been able to spend much time with the Library. For all that, his influence was considerable and Gisborne, in his book _New Zealand Rulers and Statesmen_, says "He was for many years the mainstay of the General Assembly Library. He was, it may be said, the father of that institution; and it is mainly owing to his love of literature, and to his great ability in the organisation and classification of a library that the success of the institution with comparatively small means was so marked at the date of his departure from the Colony in 1871."

Just how long he was Librarian is not clear, but probably with the library attendant and additional assistance during the session there was sufficient staff to carry out all the work. It was not until 1875 that Ewen McColl, the attendant, became Sub-Librarian, though it is possible he may have been in fact Librarian as early as 1871.

1870-1900

The last 30 years of the nineteenth century were spent by the Library Committee in enlarging the Library and in trying to obtain an adequate and suitable building to house it. The vote was raised to £300 in 1867 and £600 in 1874, while in addition the adoption of a new standing order for Private Bills in 1870 gave the fees up to £25 for a Bill that passed both Houses to the Library fund. Fines levied on members were also devoted to the Library fund, though this has never been a lucrative source. Among others, the fine of £75 imposed on Mr Lusk was received in 1875, and a similar sum from the Hon. Mr Robinson, but the historic fine of £500 inflicted on the manager of the Bank of New Zealand in 1896 was never received.

Private Bill fees varied from nothing to £150, so that the income was between £650 and £750. The money was not spent on books only, but included expenditure on binding, periodicals, and on insurance. In the eighties and early nineties insurance premiums on the collection housed in a wooden building were £100 per annum and, though they were reduced, even in the last years of the century, £40 had to be used for this purpose.

Even so the Library stock was increasing annually by some 1,400 volumes. In 1871 there were 8,330 volumes, in 1877, 14,580. Five years later the figure had increased to 21,000, and to 30,000 in 1887, reaching 52,000 in 1902. Most of the growth was due to purchase, but the Library had many friends, especially among members, and they were most generous. Their gifts filled gaps specially in New Zealand material, while others gave books of value on subjects not of great interest to Parliament. Among such donors were Carleton, Mantell, and Sheehan, to mention only a few.

The Library had other friends who were no less helpful. New Zealand was represented at the Philadelphia Centenary Exhibition in 1876 by Dr Hector. He made arrangements with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington for the General Assembly Library to receive United States Government papers and for New Zealand in turn to supply New Zealand official publications to the Institution. This was the Library's first large exchange agreement and, while the material received under it has often threatened to swamp it, very many valuable items have been added from this source.