New Zealand. General Assembly Library

“ Today the Library is working towards the time when it can give a reference and research service similar to that of the House of Commons Library, or to imitate in a smaller way that of the Library of Congress in Washington. Such a service requires intelligent, well trained staff who are capable of locating and organising information into a form where it can be readily understood and used. ”

“ Today the Library is strong in official publications, in economics, politics, administration, law, and statistics; there are good collections in history, biography, and travel, and also an excellent reference collection.
The staff have always given members of Parliament every possible service, but the scope has tended to grow. Last century members tended to do more of their own research, and relied on the staff to locate books rather than individual items of information. ”

“ As funds became available and the Library grew it was also possible to purchase books for recreational reading, but this has always been a lesser aim.
The necessity for obtaining books on matters likely to be subject to legislation has directly led to the acquisition of books relating to New Zealand. The principal subject of legislation before the New Zealand Parliament is New Zealand, and in order to give the information required it is essential to have as complete a collection as possible on New Zealand. ”

“ The provision of fiction in the Library has been criticised, but novels have been purchased since the early seventies. The numbers purchased have always been small, and have given well earned relaxation and pleasure to legislators as well as building up what is the only collection of the minor nineteenth century classics that exists in the Dominion. These books are frequently in demand by students of nineteenth century English literature. ”

“ In 1936 the Committee gave approval for the participation of the Library in the New Zealand Library Association scheme. Libraries outside have not been slow to take advantage, and while considerable restrictions exist on the books that can be lent, only one book is borrowed by the General Assembly Library for every 20 or so lent. ”

“ If the House sits late, the present system relieves the night staff when the House rises or at 8 a.m. and they are not required till 5.30 p.m.
Stocktaking was a major task of the staff. The Library did not possess a shelf list and the system used was slow. It did, however, indicate that constant vigilance was necessary—and still is—to prevent books going astray.
Mr James continued as Assistant Librarian until 1923. His later years were marked with frequent periods of illness which told on the standard of his work. ”

“ Though other alterations were made to increase shelving, no further space was taken over until 1950 when a further committee room was given to the Library. About the same time earthquake risk and alteration to the building caused the removal of books from a portion of the attic to the basement where further space had been made available. Other rooms have more recently been provided to store the books and periodicals in the Library and constant ingenuity is necessary to see that the most economical use is made of the area available. ”

“ Mr Collier did his best to liberalise the privilege, but at the same time he wanted the use limited to genuine students rather than to those who wanted it for prestige and as a means of obtaining light reading. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Dr Scholefield, with his keen interest in biography, was instrumental in obtaining for the Library many collections of personal papers of New Zealand statesmen. Among these are the papers of Sir John Hall, William Rolleston, and Sir Julius Vogel, not to mention the wonderful papers written and collected by the Richmond and Atkinson families over nearly 50 years. These documents are already proving valuable to political and historical scholars. ”

“ 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. ”

“ In addition there has been considerable expansion in the exchange arrangements, Government publishing having increased considerably in the United Kingdom and the United States. Arrangements for the exchange of official publications with Australia were made in 1952, while during 1957 the Canadian Government made the General Assembly Library a select depository for its publications. ”

“ This provided welcome relief, but only for a short while until in 1926 the attic space over the main reading room was shelved and provided a makeshift storeroom for books.
The next expansion came in 1933 when the committee rooms adjacent to the main reading room were taken over and portion of the walls removed to give an open area. In 1938 the Library took over the remainder of the attic and portion of the first floor vacated by the Health Department. ”

“ Several resolutions concerning the Library, its location, and the calling of competitive designs were passed, but though the Government proposed to put £7,000 on the estimates towards a Library, it was not done. ”

“ The question of an English appointment was vigorously debated until finally in September 1900 selection in New Zealand was recommended. The position was advertised in the New Zealand Gazette and Mr Charles Wilson, former journalist, and M.H.R. for Wellington Suburbs for two years, was appointed. Mr Wilson, who was a member of the Library Committee, had not sought re-election in 1899.
As Mr Wilson did not take up his new duties until February 1901, the task of making arrangements for moving into the new building fell to Mr James. ”

“ 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. ”