§ 40. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which users of the National Reference Library for Science and Invention have open access to the library in the present temporary and divided quarters.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsThe National Reference Library for Science and Invention is at present located in Bloomsbury (at the British Museum), and in Holborn (in the former Patent Office Library). There is at present open access only to that part of the collection housed in Holborn.
§ Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to recruit staff for the National Reference Library for Science and Invention in order to meet the planned programme for expansion and development; how many new staff have been recruited this year; and if he is satisfied with the rate of recruitment.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsThe recruitment of extra staff for the National Reference Library of Science and Invention is in the hands of the trustees of the British Museum, who use the Civil Service Commission, the Ministry of Labour and Press advertisements. Thirty-eight new staff have been recruited since 1st January, 1966. Sixteen of these were for additional posts and 22 for vacancies and wastage. The quality of the staff recruited has been very satisfactory but for some of the posts recruitment has been slow, and difficulty has been found in recruiting clerical staff. I am satisfied that the trustees are doing everything possible to expedite recruitment.