On 31 March 1958, 989 towns and small centres were receiving regular loans of books, an increase of 32 centres over the previous year. In addition, 54 Ministry of Works, State Hydro-electric, and New Zealand Forest Service camps and stations were given library service. Books are also on loan to six places in the Chatham Islands, and to Niue, Rarotonga, and Pitcairn Island. Free loans of books on a population basis are given to mental hospitals and prisons situated both in country and urban districts.
Books, periodicals, and information are available to country people in the following ways:
(a)Free loans of books on a population basis to libraries controlled by the local authorities, which in turn agree to make their libraries free and to maintain reasonable standards of library service.
(b)Loans of books to independent subscription public libraries at a small annual charge per fifty books loaned.
(c)Loans of books through hamper collections to isolated groups of readers at a small annual charge.
(d)Free loans of books to lighthouse keepers and similar very remote readers.
(e)Free loans of books on a population basis to Ministry of Works, State Hydro-electric, and New Zealand Forest Service camps.
All libraries served under (a) and (b) and the majority under (c) receive regular visits from one of the especially equipped book vans of this Service; at least three visits being paid to each library during a normal year. In addition, all persons, by whichever of the above means they receive library service, may obtain loans of requested books by post.
[FREE PUBLIC LIBRARIES: "A" SERVICE]
On 31 March 1958 there were participating in the service 107 libraries controlled by the following local authorities: