LIBRARIES. 15 
CHIEF LIBRARIAN’S REPORT. 
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Gentlemen, 
T respectfully submit a report of the work of the Reference and 
Lending Libraries during the year 1911. 
The attached tables of statistics shew that 2,258,777 volumes 
were issued over the counters in the Reference Library, Lending 
Libraries, and Reading Rooms. In addition, it is estimated that 
there has been a use equal to an issue of over half a million volumes 
of the books placed on open shelves in the Reference and Branch 
Reading Rooms. 
The figures for the Reference Library may be regarded as normal. 
Nearly twenty-three thousand more volumes were issued than in 
1910, the smaller figures for that year being accounted for by the 
fact that the Picton Reading Room was closed for one month for 
painting. 
The issues from the Lending Libraries shew a nett decrease as 
compared with the previous year of 25302 volumes to adults, and 
a nett increase of 6488 volumes to juveniles. The decreased issues 
to adults are neither unsatisfactory nor unexpected. To some 
extent they may be accounted for by the unusually long period of 
fine weather, the disturbed state of the city during August, and by 
the fact that two of the Libraries were closed for four months 
while their stocks were being prepared for transfer to new buildings. 
The principal reason, however, is the Committee’s change of policy 
in regard to the purchase of novels. Since the end of the year 1909 
novels have not been bought until a period of from six to twelve 
months after publication has elapsed. The decreased issues of fiction 
during 1911 as compared with the issues for the year 1910 amount to 
~18518 volumes. In an annual issue of over nine hundred thousand 
volumes of fiction, a decrease of eighteen thousand is not a serious 
