A 19th century NZ library

It was a great privilege to see Lydia Wevers give her inaugural professorial lecture at VUW last week.

Lydia wears many hats, and is well-known to many of us in the library community through her research into New Zealand literature and history, and her work with the Stout Centre and as Chair of the Guardians Kaitiaki of the Turnbull Library.

Lydia's lecture was about the Brancepeth Station Library, now held as part of the special collections at the J.C. Beaglehole Room in the VUW Library.

Lydia's presentation featured stunning images of the library like the one below, as well as details gleaned from the library itself and the extensive archives of the station. Lydia's wide-ranging talk included analysis of the genres in the 2000-volume collection (mostly popular fiction and reference works), marginalia (including the word "Rot!" on the title page of a book promoting temperance), the value of newspapers, and the borrowing patterns amongst the various groups of staff that worked on the station.

Lydia is writing a book about the library, which will hopefully be available soon, as her account of the role of the library in the social and intellectual life of the station was fascinating.

The Brancepeth Station Library c.1966. Image credit: Edward Beetham.

Lydia's standing in the academic and wider community was obvious from the large numbers attending the lecure. The lecture venue was changed at late notice for a larger room, and even then, it was standing room only, with several hundred people crammed into the lecture hall.

As Lydia herself noted at the start of her lecture, it was gratifying to see so many people turn out on a cold Wellington night for a lecture about books and reading. Congratulations to Lydia on a very successful lecture - I look forward to reading her book when it is published.

Hi from Charlotte

I originally wrote this note in a word document, in preparation for the launch of our blog, and MSWord underlined the word blog as a misspelling. Now, we all know MSWord is not the last word on spelling, but blogs and blogging are hardly new any more! Yet here we are launching a blog in 2008. For a profession deeply involved in all manner of information technology it seems an event to be quietly sclathed into being without drawing any attention to it at all. But to do so would undermine the purpose of this blog – which is to provide a space for local LIANZA members to keep informed about events, news, ideas, and hold conversations.

So, am I a little embarrassed about the late arrival of a blog into our midst? Not at all. I am really pleased to be welcoming all members and any other interested people to our blog, and I am thrilled we can offer this facility. Like many new events, the blog has been championed by a couple of keen and able members who are on the regional committee –Fiona Rigby and Sam Searle.

Thinking about the launch of our blog, I paused to reflect on the many and varied IT capabilities we have at our disposal – each with it’s own set of stunning features and each presenting a new set of learning needs for hopeful users. The idea of publishing news and views so they are visible to the whole world is still a concept that causes me to pause, but it’s the ‘how-to’ that often leaves a good idea that little bit out of reach. We used to say that the only help you needed to install the new VCR was the teenager from next door. Fortunately, signing up to web accounts is now second nature – it’s remembering the passwords that catches me out!

I hope all readers will feel free to ask a question and post comments, and I would like to reiterate our invitation to join the bloggers. Watch out for new events coming up too. June's event is a cocktail party. In the meantime, we welcome your participation however you join in, and look forward to getting to know more of you.

Naku noa, na
Charlotte

Tell us what you want!

Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui Regional LIANZA Committee is really keen to know more about you and what we sort of events you want us to organise.

Our aim is to organise professional development events and opportunities that are useful, interesting, relevant and fun.

We've got a few ideas but we really want to hear from you.

So tell us what you want by completing this short online questionnaire.
All respondents will go into a draw for a $60 book or music voucher - you could be that lucky person!

The questionnaire closes on Monday June 9th 2008 at 5pm.

Grand Tour of Wellington Medical Library - 15 April 2008

Thanks to the Wellington Medical Library manager, Rachel Esson, and her staff, for opening the doors to their refurbished building to Wellington colleagues on 15 April.

Over drinks and nibbles, around 25 of us heard Rachel’s stories of the ups and downs of planning and implementing a library move.



Rachel Esson, Wellington Medical Librarian shares her experience with the group.








Rachel’s talk was very wide-ranging, covering topics like planning, establishing a project team, and weeding collections. Design and interiors issues like signage (the positives of adopting bilingual signage, and the negatives of trying to design signage if you are spatially challenged!), shelving, furniture, and ergonomic service desk design were also discussed.





Staff and students alike love the beautifully designed shelves at the Medical Library.









Following Rachel’s talk, we were split into groups led by some of Rachel’s staff members, Joy Wearne, Susan Hope and Kareen Carter.





The open, inviting entrance to the library.













The grid panel on the staircase was designed by artist Simon Morris.










The tours covered all the public areas and behind the scenes; an unexpected highlight was the library’s public artworks. Rachel’s belief that “artwork in a library is important to give a point of difference and to help create an atmosphere” has been translated into a stunning new art collection, which includes works from well-known and upcoming contemporary artists, including Gina Matchitt. The centrepiece of the collection is Gina’s tukutuku panels, which are constructed of recycled computer keys. These are not only beautiful, but fit with the library’s mission of supporting staff and students: the panels in the library collection are a poutama design that represents the “stairway to knowledge”.






A quiet area for browsing journals with Dean Bradley's "Venice After the Rain" in the background.










Workstations accompanied by some artworks by Taranaki artist Yvonne Coleman.






These panels provide visual interest on the lower level of the Library.











The tour group checks out the Issues Desk.
Rachel recommends getting your architects to work behind a work desk before they design them!





Thanks again to Rachel and her staff for a fascinating evening at the new Wellington Medical Library!

Rachel's presentation notes are available to download(29.5 Kb Word Doc).