Twelfth Annual Meeting. 623 



Librarians Report. — The Hon. Librarian's report was read and adopted, 



as follows : — 



Hon. Librarian's Report. 



Owing to the congestion in the room, of the Museum, used jointly for the library 

 of the New Zealand Institute and of the Wellington Philosophical Society, it has been 

 found necessary to remove and store a large number of old books. This operation has 

 been delayed owing to the use of this room during the greater part of the year for other 

 Museum purposes, and is not yet completed, but it has enabled the majority of the 

 current journals to be assembled, tied up in volumes, and placed on the shelves. At 

 the same time I have introduced a partial geographical classification in the arrangement 

 of the journals, making it easier to trace and find them. I propose also to supply an 

 additional number of light ladders to enable more ready access to the higher shelves. 

 When these arrangements are completed the library will be much more easy to work 

 and use. 



It must not be forgotten, however, that the placing of the volumes in the shelves 

 without binding is not only an unsatisfactory procedure, but is one that makes the 

 ultimate putting of the library in order a more difficult and costly matter with every 

 year that passes. As proposals regarding the library will come before the Board of 

 Governors in the form of a report from the Standing Committee, it is not necessary to 

 make any remedial suggestions at this juncture. 



Library Committee. — It was proposed by Dr. Allan Thomson, seconded 

 by Professor Farr, That a Library Committee of three, including ^the Hon. 

 Librarian, be appointed. — Carried. 



Dominion Scientific, Art, and Historical Library. — -The following report 

 was received from the sub-committee (appointed by the Standing Com- 

 mittee) to draw up conditions under which the library of the Board of 

 Governors should be offered to the proposed Dominion Scientific, Art, 

 and Historical Library : — 



Conditions under which it is recommended that the Library of the New 

 Zealand Institute be handed over to the Board or Science and Art. 



The Board of Governors hereby offer to hand over their library to the custody of 

 the Board of Science and Art, to form an integral part of the Dominion Scientific, Art, 

 and Historical Library as constituted under the Science and Art Act of 1913, on the 

 following conditions : — " 



(1.) That the transfer of books do not take place until a fireproof building of modern 

 design has been erected for the housing of the books and a competent librarian has' teen 

 appointed to give his whole time to the management of the library. 



(2.) That the library be a reference library, the books or periodicals of which do 

 not circulate for home use ; but that members of the New Zealand Institute shall have 

 access to the library at reasonable hours, and that any member of the New| Zealand 

 Institute who is engaged in research may, upon recommendation of two Governors of 

 the Institute, receive from the Librarian a special permit to take out): books; and 

 periodicals for home use. 



(3.) That in the event of the Science and Art Board being disbanded, or its constitu- 

 tion being reorganized under a new Act of Parliament, the Institute have the right to 

 withdraw its collection of books in whole or in part from the Dominion Science' and 

 Art Library. 



(4.) That the Board of Science and Art shall make provision in the new Dominion 

 Museum and Library building for a. board-room for the use of the Board of Governors 

 of the Institute, 



Professor Easterfield presented the report, which was considered, and 

 on the motion of Mr. Ewen, seconded by Professor Kirk, it was resolved, 

 That the Board of Governors hereby offer to hand over their library to 

 the custody of the Board of Science and Art, to form an integral part of 

 the Dominion Scientific, Art, and Historical Library as constituted under 

 the Science and Art Act of 1913, on conditions to be agreed to by the 

 Institute and the Board of Science and Art, and that the transfer of the 



