VPRS 5052 Accounts Book

From the period of its establishment in 1856 through to 1944 the library had been administered by a Board of Trustees which was responsible for managing and controlling the Public Library, National Museum, Industrial and Technology Museum and the National Gallery. In 1944 separate boards of Trustees were established for each agency.According to the Libraries Act 1928 the Trustees were required to annually report the proceedings of the corporation during the previous year to the Chief Secretary. The Annual Report was required to contain a full account of the income and expenditure of the corporation to be duly audited by the Auditor General. A copy of the report was to be laid before Parliament.The record lists sources of income and the money made. The Trustees were able to gain funds from the hiring out of tearooms; sales of publications, catalogues and postcards; money from fines and damages; lavatory collections and interest from investments. Insurance claims as well as premiums received for pictures on loan were other sources of income. Also recorded in this volume was the income made from the fees of the Gallery's school of drawing and school of painting.Petty cash income was recorded in this volume (P0 consignment) for the financial years 1939-1945. This series would have been part of the standard accounting records of the Library.The consignment was accessioned as an 'R' (or review) consignment. Its status was changed to 'P' (or permanent) in 1999.