Report of the Chief Librarian for the Year Ended 31 March 1958: Special Centennial Issue

Celebrating a century of service, this report offers a snapshot of the General Assembly Library’s evolution up to 1958. Written by the chief librarian for presentation to Parliament, it blends a historical appendix with a detailed account of the past year's operations. Listeners will hear how a modest parliamentary collection grew into a national treasure of books, pamphlets, maps, and more.

The 1957‑58 year was marked by steady staffing, the installation of a new circulation counter, and the cataloguing of over 8,000 new volumes, ranging from philosophy to fiction. A highlight was the gift of 350 United States titles from the Carnegie Corporation, instantly popular with researchers. The report also details the library’s work with copyright deposits, microfilming, and inter‑library exchange, illustrating its commitment to preserving New Zealand’s documentary heritage.

Appendices trace the library’s origins from its 1858 foundation through pivotal moments such as fires, expansions, and the shift toward a research facility. For anyone curious about how a parliamentary library becomes a cultural hub, the narrative provides both statistics and human stories behind the shelves.