NATIONAL LIBRARY (Statistics of members and books purchased)

Mr Ho Kah Leong asked the Minister for Culture (a) if he will give the numbers of members of the National Library grouped according to their interest in Malay, Chinese. Tamil or English material as at 15th November.1968; and (b) how many books, giving separate figures for Malay, Chinese, Tamil and English books, have been purchased by the Library between 1st January, 1967, and 15th November, 1968.

Mr Fong Sip Chee (for the Minister for Culture): Sir, it is not possible for us to give the number of members of the National Library as requested in the question, because many readers borrow hooks in more than one language. An indication of the interest in Malay, Chinese, Tamil or English material can be obtained from the figures for the number of books borrowed in these languages.

However, as the National Library has lent over one million books a year since 1966, statistics of the breakdown of the number of books borrowed in the four languages are kept only for the Library Extension Section, that is to say, the two part-time branches and the mobile library points. In 1967, out of a total of 268.626 books borrowed by some 24,660 members of the Library Extension Section, 63,249 were Malay, 56,006 were Chinese, 8,091 were Tamil and 141,280 were English. From January to October 1968, the total number of books borrowed by some 28,000 members of the Library Extension Section was 213,455, of which 39,923 were Malay, 50,746 were Chinese, 8,166 were Tamil and 114,620 were English.

With regard to the number of books purchased in the four languages between 1st January. 1967, and 15th November, 1968, the breakdown figures are as follows: Malay books - 17,909 Chinese books - 36,756 Tamil books - 9,119 English books - 38,699 ------- Total 102,483 =======