8 LIBRARIES. 
the Blue Books and Parliamentary Papers are now displayed in the 
Picton Reading Room as soon as received, a change which has 
called forth appreciative comments from Readers. But while a 
much larger number of people are thus enabled to see these 
important publications they cease to be included im the over-counter 
issues, and only an approximate estimate of their use can be formed. 
The same remarks apply to the displays of books on such topical 
subjects as Free Trade, Finance, Government, &c. (during the 
General Elections): Agriculture (at the time of the Agricultural 
Show); King Edward VII., Orchardson, Holman Hunt, and Mark 
Twain. 
To accurately record the issues in full without affecting the 
unrestricted use of the books would be very difficult and very 
expensive, while the result would not be worth either the money or 
the labour involved. The books are purchased for use rather than 
to have their use statistically recorded. Therefore, in studying 
the appended figures it should be understood that they only partially 
show the work accomplished. 
CLASSIFICATION STATISTICS. 
At a time when Public Libraries (particularly the Lending 
Departments) are subjected to so much criticism for their 
comparatively large issues of fiction, it is appropriate to draw atten- 
tion to Tables If and V wherein are shown the ciassification 
of issues in our Reference and Lending Libraries. Of the total 
issues in the Reference and Lending Libraries (Children’s Libraries 
excepted), 57 per cent. were prose fiction; while of the total issues 
for Home Reading only (Children’s Libraries excepted), 77 per cent. 
were prose fiction. In considering these figures it should be 
remembered that novels are not added as soon as published, and 
that every care is taken to exclude those to which general exception 
may be taken on moral grounds. Whatever criticism may be passed 
on the extent of the fiction issues the Libraries Committee are 
justified in taking credit for the serious side of their work, a side 
which critics so repeatedly overlook. Libraries which during the 
