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see also
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Milton's 400th Birthday

Milton Essay Competition

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History of the Library

Library Guardians

Guardians/Kaitiaki of the Turnbull

  • Role of the Guardians/Kaitiaki of the Turnbull
  • Members of the Guardians/Kaitiaki

Role of the Guardians/Kaitiaki of the Turnbull

The Guardians/Kaitiaki of the Alexander Turnbull Library are a ministerial advisory body established under the new National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa) Act 2003. They were set up in 2004 by the Minister Responsible for the National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa), Marian Hobbs, to safeguard the unique role of the Turnbull.

The role of the Guardians/Kaitiaki of the Alexander Turnbull Library is to advise the Minister responsible for the National Library, currently the Hon. Judith Tizard, on key matters associated with the operation of the Library, and protecting and developing the collections of the Turnbull.

Their appointment was in line with the government's undertakings to preserve, protect, develop and make accessible the special collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library in perpetuity, and to maintain the character of the services that distinguish the Alexander Turnbull Library as a research library. The foundation Guardians were Dr Lydia Wevers (Chairperson), Dr James Ng, Professor Judith Binney, Ms Theresa Graham, and Dr Patu Hohepa.

Their statutory function is to advise the Minister on key matters associated with the operation of the Turnbull. They meet three times a year.

Current members are:

Lydia Wevers PhD (chairperson, term expires September 2009). Dr Wevers is a critic, English language literary historian, editor, and book reviewer, who specialises in New Zealand and Australian literature. From 1998 to 2001 she was principal researcher for the History of Print Culture Project, and also a senior associate/research associate at the School of English, Film and Theatre at Victoria University of Wellington. She is currently director of the Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies, Victoria University of Wellington.

Professor Mark Apperley PhD BEng, (term expires September 2009). Professor Apperley is dean of the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences and professor of computer science at the University of Waikato. His interests lie in digital libraries and he has been involved in the development of a digital library collection of Maori-language newspapers. His research has principally been in the fields of human-computer interaction, interface design and implementation, information visualisation, navigation of complex information spaces and computer supported collaborative work.

Professor Judith Binney DCNZM, MA (Hons), FRSNZ (term expires September 2009). Professor Binney is emeritus professor of history at the University of Auckland. She is the author of numerous books of New Zealand history, many with a focus on Maori individuals and communities. In 1997 she was awarded the CNZM for services to historical research, and in 1998 was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand. In 2006 she was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to historical research. She was also awarded $60,000 for non-fiction in the 2006 Prime Minister's Awards for Literary Achievement.

Elizabeth Caffin MNZM MA MSc (term expires September 2008). Elizabeth Caffin is former director of Auckland University Press. In a long publishing career she has worked for Collins Publishers, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, A.H. & A.W. Reed Ltd, and Copyright Licensing Ltd. She is a councillor (and past president) of the Book Publishers Association of New Zealand (BPANZ) and is on the Publishing Courses Advisory Committee, Whitireia Community Polytechnic.

Monty Soutar PhD MA BEd DipTchg (term expires September 2009). Dr Soutar (Ngati Porou, Ngati Awa, Ngati Kahungunu, Ngai Tai), is director of Gisborne's Tairawhiti Museum and senior lecturer at Massey University's School of Maori Studies. He is also a researcher and author with a particular interest in Maori oral history. Dr Soutar is a member of the Maori Heritage Council (Historic Places Trust) and the Waitangi Tribunal. He has been a member of the Oral History Awards Committee (Ministry for Culture and Heritage) and is on Te Ara Wananga, Maori Advisory Committee to Te Ara/The Online Encyclopaedia Of New Zealand. He is a member of Te Pouhere Korere (Maori Historians Association) and received a Fellowship in Maori History (Ministry for Culture and Heritage) in 2004-2005.

Report from the Guardians The main business of the initial years has been implementing the provisions of the National Library Act 2003. While the Act sets out the statutory relationships of the Alexander Turnbull Library to the National Library, it quite properly does not specify how these are to be conducted. The Guardians have focussed their attention on how to achieve the spirit within the letter of law and have set up meeting protocols to give a structural and formal shape to the Act's requirements. They have particularly focussed on the phrase "research library", which seems to determine the future strategic direction of the Turnbull and to require broad public recognition. They also initiated a letter of agreement between the National Librarian and the ATL Chief Librarian which establishes working procedures for that relationship.

The Guardians have appreciated the generous attitudes shown by both the National Librarian and the Chief Librarian to their work, recognising that the establishment of a new body and its legal duties is not a simple task and requires collaboration on many fronts. The Guardians have enjoyed working with the Minister, the Hon Judith Tizard, and also welcome the support and advice of the Friends of the Turnbull Library.

Friends of the Turnbull Library 2008