ALEXANDER LIBRARY TO HELP PRESERVE HISTORICAL RECORDS

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 November 1950, Page 4

ALEXANDER LIBRARY TO HELP PRESERVE HISTORICAL RECORDS

Realising the importance of preserving local public records, the New Zealand Library Association has sought the co-operation of librarians in undertaking temporary custody ot any material available until an appropriate archives repository can be established in each district. Librarian at the Alexander. Library, Wanganui, Mr K. G. Mawson, is willing to undertake such work for this district.

Although New Zealand is a comparatively young country, difficulty has already been experienced in collecting early public records, the Library Association has found. Many important records of recent years are still being destroyed or left to deteriorate through bad storage, and others are being dispersed throughout the country in private collections, it was stated. The association has listed some of the types of material it recommends should be preserved, but stresses that no material which may be of historic importance should be destroyed without the national archives branch of the Department of Internal Affairs being consulted. Among the material the association places historical value on are pamphlets and small books written about the district and its institutions, vital records, local body records, portraits, old letters, old settlers’ reminis2ences and records of local offices of Government departments. Until 1885 there was no compulsory registration of birth, deaths and marriages in New Zealand, so church registers prior to that date have considerable historic value. Even of later date they are not to be ignored, says the association. Family Bibles and registers of cemeteries, as well as electoral rolls are also valuable. Among the local body records the association wishes preserved are rating records, minutes and account books, as well as similar records of societies, clubs and friendly society lodges. Social organisations going out of existence should always be asked to hand over their minutes for safekeeping, says the association. It also urges librarians to discuss the matter of preservation of public and local records with all Governofficers who have the care of current records, to impress upon them the need for preventing their destruction. This is because the association fears the instruction that old departmental files are not to be desroyed without the Public Service Commission being consulted is not always heeded.