1939, together with a report thereon by the Treasurer and Controller, were submitted to a meeting of the Library Committee on February 2. It was noted that these estimates, after emendation and excluding Stock and Stores, amounted to $26,- 450, showing an increase of $10,660 as compared with 1938. This large increase was due primarily to the inclusion of passage and long leave benefits for the Assistant Librarian, the other contributory factors being an increase of $2,000 in the appropriation for new books due to the fall in exchange, revision of the terms of the Librarians appointment, and the inclusion of provisions for normal pay increments and temporary bonus for the staff. A nominal sum of $150 was provided under Stock and Stores for the purchase of additional bookshelves.
Discussion ensued as to the desirability of providing a further appropriation for the purchase of Chinese books. The 1939 appropriation for new books had been increased to $6,000, of which $4,800 was for books in English and $1,200 for Chinese books. Members were informed that since the introduction of a special rate for students of $4 per annum 179 students representing about ten Universities had joined the Library. The Treasurer and Controller intimated that he was prepared to agree to the Budget provision for Chinese books being creased by the sum of $1,000 duri 1999.
It was unanimously decided that, subject to any further necessary adjustments by the Treasurer and Controller in conjunction with the Librarian, the Annual Estimates for the Public Library for 1939 be approved for submission to the Finance Committee, and it was also recommended that the budget provision for new books be increased by the sum of $1,000 during 1939, to be used for the purchase of such books as would attract Chinese readers. fan Enters Wrong
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.