Report of the Chief Librarian for the Year 1924-25

A vivid snapshot of New Zealand’s parliamentary knowledge hub in the mid‑1920s, this report opens with the Chief Librarian’s formal address to the House of Representatives. It details the workings of the Recess Library Committee, the hurdles of securing a quorum, and the modest yet purposeful growth of the collection amid tight budgets. Readers gain a clear picture of how the library balanced fiscal restraint with a desire to acquire works on current political, social and Pacific‑wide issues, while respecting the territory of the neighboring Turnbull Library.

Beyond the numbers, the narrative reveals the human side of the institution: the chief’s health‑related leave, the capable interim stewardship of Mr. Wauchop, and the privileged circulation of non‑fiction titles to legislators during recess. Practical anecdotes—such as a small loss of plates from art magazines—add texture, making this report a compelling glimpse into the daily life and priorities of a historic legislative library.