Parliamentary Library 1858 – 2008

Parliamentary Library staff, December 2007. Photo Ross Becker

Celebrating 150 years of the history of the General Assembly / Parliamentary Library has made 2008 a significant and memorable year. We acknowledge the contribution of former and current staff to the work of the Library and thank you for your contribution to the celebrations.

 

The Library’s 150^th anniversary was celebrated and captured in many ways. In the written word, displays, talks, functions, in lights, with a song, photographs, paintings and even cakes. This blog reflects the activities of the Parliamentary Library’s 150^th year.  

Fun and Games

The Library Social Committee recently organised an end of year sports evening on the back lawn of the Library. The evening was a great success with staff teams competing in sack racing, petanque and mini golf. There was also a lolly scramble and pass the parcel. Gold medals were given out in various categories that included ‘best sports skills’ and ‘most committed and enthusiastic’. The photo here shows David receiving a gold medal for good sportsmanship. Gold and silver cups were awarded to Ross and Barbara for being the best dressed in sporty gear. Yummy salads and cakes were made by staff. Rumours abound that some staff were using the evening as a build-up for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Parliamentary Library’s contribution to New Zealand library development

The October 2008 edition of the New Zealand Library and Information Journal contains an article by John E. Martin about how the Parliamentary Library, its librarians and supporters have contributed to library development in New Zealand. Reference is made to the development of the newspaper collection, New Zealand collection and the international documents collection. Its relationship with the Alexander Turnbull Library and the formation of the National Library is also highlighted.

 

The same issue has a review of the book Parliament’s Library – 150 years that was launched in September to celebrate the Library’s 150^th anniversary.

 

An electronic copy of the journal is available on the LIANZA Internet site

http://www.lianza.org.nz/publications/journal/index.html

150th Event Images

As all diligent librarians should, we have carefully recorded the anniversary events. Ross Becker has produced many notable images – some of which we offer in compilations for your delectation. Many thanks to Ross. There are photos of the library in lights, the book launch on 10 September, the staff reunion on 12 September, Parliament’s Open Day on 14 September, and the Victorian afternoon tea party on 19 September. These are but a small selection of the full range of images recording the memorable events associated with the 150th birthday of the Parliamentary Library.

 

 

Follow the link to see the 14 compilations: http://tiny.cc/GPBvY

 

 

 

 

 

Interview on Radio New Zealand National

On Sunday 28^th of September the Parliamentary Historian, Dr John E. Martin was interviewed by Lynn Freeman about the history of Parliamentary Library for the Arts on Sunday programme. The interview takes the listener on a tour of parts of the building with a commentary on its history, building, notable events, collection and treasures.

 

The audio is available for download on the Arts on Sunday section of the Radio New Zealand website  beginning at 14.48 and running for just over 9 minutes.

 

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/artsonsunday

Blowing the candles out!

The Parliamentary Library held a bake-off competition morning tea on 22 September as the final event in the celebrations commemorating the 150 years of the library. This was organised by the Social Committee. Staff entered a wide range of cakes and other goodies and the three judges found it extremely difficult to decide on a winner. Eventually the competition was decided on the toss of a coin – a beautifully presented lemon cake just prevailed over a tasty chocolate and cream cheese concoction. Only then did it emerge that one of the judges herself had contributed the winning cake!! No wonder she was rather silent during the deliberations!  The prize was a copy of Parliament’s Library – 150 Years. A monstrous chocolate cake in the shape of 150 years got a special commendation for imagination. To celebrate the occasion a cake illustrated with photos of the library building by day and lit up at night was adorned with candles – and we can say that with the blowing out of the candles and the singing of ‘Happy Birthday’ the 150th anniversary was brought to a satisfactory conclusion.

Memories from London

Working at the Parliamentary Library was very special, due to both the physical building we moved around in and the people we worked for and with. The Reference Room team was the best –  lively & social.  All in all it was a great place to be practicing librarianship in the 1980s.

 

Spending one afternoon a week in isolation, sequestered in the small Clippings Room (to the left of the main entrance), was not my favourite duty. 

 

Nor was serving time in the Media Room (on the right, off the long hall-way down to the tea-area), always holding my breath first thing in the morning hoping I had timed the 24 hr clock correctly and that all the recordings had been made in their entirety without the video or cassette tapes running out.

 

Manipulating the huge, wooden spined newspaper folders onto the impossibly small photocopying machine was frustrating and seldom successful. 

 

Morning tea from ‘Art Craft’, a bakery across the road, was eaten in a leaky, glass-roofed corridor on old sofas with compromised suspension.

 

Some of the simpler things I appreciate now after having lived in London for 10 years – free parking in the angle car parks right outside the front entrance to the library and the sash windows we could open for immediate fresh air.

 

Wendy (1986-87)

Library 150th staff function

Retired Parliamentary Librarian Hillas MacLean unveils a painting by Peter McIntyre purchased to commemorate the anniversary

 

On Friday 12^th of September current and former Parliamentary Library staff gathered in the Library to celebrate 150 years of library service and renew many friendships. Former staff had travelled from Australia, Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch especially for the event. Some of the former staff had worked in the library as early as the 1950s and many took the opportunity to visit old and new areas of the building. The formalities included an item by the Library choir, unveiling a painting and speeches from former Parliamentary Librarians and the Parliamentary Historian. A highlight of the evening was the group photographs impressively marshalled by one of the current staff members. The 150^th project group would like to thank everyone involved in this memorable occasion.

 Past and present staff mingle

 

150th Greetings from former staff

Dearest former colleagues and all others present on this very special occasion.
I wish you all a wonderful time celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Parliamentary Library.
Would dearly love to be there amongst you. In thought I am and am sure all the other colleagues that could not be present,  wherever they may find themselves on  the globe,  will be there in thought as well. So it is going to be a global happening! Warmest regards, Johan.

 

Congratulations to John and the Library team on this special day – from a sunny Eastern Cape VSA assignment, carrying the Library research experience far and wide! Sandra.

 

Hope you all have a great weekend. I would have loved to be there – so many names I recognise, both from WGA and library school. For those wondering if they recognise my name – I was a library assistant in cataloguing in 1979 (hello Tholla and Jan!) then worked in acquisitions/serials in 1980 (greetings to Ruth, Cheryl, Lynn and Roger) before library school in 81. Lorna

 

Hi colleagues of 5 years ago, I hope you have a really good party.

I recall the good times in social policy, in between work the Maori singing, a soccer team, laser war game evening, naked protests against GE, a tractor going up the steps, the Lord of the Rings premiere, getting lost in the basement but never squashed by a moving stack. Mark.

 

My very best wishes for the occasion. I have followed the blog with interest and was so pleased to see so many familiar names in the list of attendees. I am so sorry not to be there myself. Gerald.

 

Congratulations and best wishes to all for the 150^th. If you are in Brisbane come and visit. Marisa.

 

To all my work mates from WGA, many of whom are still good friends several decades later, have a wonderful weekend re-united. Wendy. 

 

Parliament’s Library – 150 years

From left: Moira Fraser (Parliamentary Librarian), Hillas MacLean (retired Parliamentary Librarian), Ian Matheson (retired Parliamentary Librarian), and John Martin

On the 10^th of September the Speaker Hon Margaret Wilson launched a book on the history of the Parliamentary Library called Parliament’s Library – 150 years by Dr John E. Martin. The function was held in Parliament’s Grand Hall and was attended by a large number of people. The text of the Speaker’s speech is available on the Parliament website

http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/Admin/Speaker/Speeches/