SAVING DOCUMENTS AS LIBRARY DUTY

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29911, 27 August 1962, Page 10

SAVING DOCUMENTS AS LIBRARY DUTY

(Neio Zealand Press Association)

WANCANUI. August 26.

A suggestion that public libraries could perform another great service if they were recognised as places for the preservation of documents of peculiarly local interest. was made by Dr O C Mazengatb of Wellington, when he opened Wanganui Public Library week today The week is the first of its kind in New Zealand There was no more suitable place than a wellappointed municipal library for the preservation of important; minutes- reports, correspondence and programmes

of semi-public, and even private organisations which had played their part in '.'he general advancement of the district, Dr. Mazengacb said.

“The average private persons cannot be expected to know which of the documents in his possession have, or may acquire, historical significance. “Books have the appearance of a lasting value and are usually kept on shelves but pamphlets, photographs and programmes are all too often destroyed under the copper or in an incinerator." he said.

Municipal librarians. Dr. Mazen garb said, should be vested with the same sort of power to preserve local documents as the chief archivist had regarding the records of Government offices.

"Some organisations might not desire to use such a service but others would see the advantage of depositing their papers in a building recognised as suitable for the safe custody of things likely to be of historical interest in a .•ommunity." he said. ‘The important thing is to let the public know that anything likely to be of importance to historians may be deported in their public libraries."