The Year in Review: Turnbull 2015

Turnbull Library Record, Volume 48, 1 January 2016, Page 77

The Year in Review: Turnbull 2015

CHRIS SZEKELY Chief Librarian Alexander Turnbull Library

The Alexander Turnbull Library continues to actively preserve, protect, develop and make accessible its collections, in accordance with its statutory purpose. Highlights of the year from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 include activities such as World War One centenary events and support for Pasifika initiatives. Purchasing a new collection management system for unpublished collections was a major milestone, as was commissioning new audio-visual studios for the preservation of those collections.

Preserving the collections

In July 2015, after two years of work, the Turnbull's new audio-visual studios opened. The Audio-Visual Conservation team managed the project and designed the studios - which feature modern equipment for conserving and digitising a range of audio-visual formats. Thanks to this new facility, the amount of material that can be preserved to established archival standards has increased greatly. The Collection Care team conducted preservation surveys on two significant collections: New Zealand & Pacific publications, and the Photographic Archive. The surveys confirmed that the collections are well preserved to a high standard. The team also made significant progress on retrospective projects, including enhanced earthquake protective measures for glass negatives and rare books; improved arrangements for ring binder, pamphlet and folio sequence storage; and upgraded collection retrieval equipment. Remedial conservation treatments were applied to 3,31 5 collection items, and nearly 3,000 preservation assessments were completed on incoming collections, materials prepared for digitisation, and items requested for loan.

Protecting the collections Collection protection in an online environment is an increasingly large part of the Turnbull's work as it seeks to provide clarity about how digital collections can or cannot be shared, used and reused. Momentum has continued to build since the 2014 approval of a new policy on the use and reuse of collection items.

This year, the Turnbull agreed its process and decision-making for either releasing appropriate collections for free use without restrictions, or protecting their integrity and restricting certain forms of use due to legal, cultural or ethical reasons.

The Turnbull's work in this area has been recognised as valuable within the sector. Mark Crookston, who leads the Digital Collection Strategy team, travelled to several cities around New Zealand to promote the policy as a template for others. This was part of a national roadshow by Creative Commons Aotearoa New Zealand (CCANZ). CCANZ also worked closely with the Turnbull to provide online tools for the New Zealand cultural heritage sector, including the policy template and a guide for donors wanting to donate items to New Zealand collecting institutions.

Developing the collections

The National Library's collection policy - which includes the Turnbull - was revised considerably, and the draft policy was released for stakeholder and public consultation in June. The Turnbull intends to publish more in-depth collecting plans in a range of curatorial and subject areas.

Over 71,500 items and collections were acquired during the year, the majority through Legal Deposit. Significant purchases and donations included the Ans Westra photographic collection, a substantial collection of James Cowan material, and the Platinum Earth atlas.

The Ans Westra collection has been housed at the Turnbull for many years, with ownership retained by the photographer. In June 2014, Ms Westra donated the negatives and file prints, and in July the Turnbull signed an agreement to purchase digitised copies with appropriate metadata. The negatives are being digitised onsite under the Turnbull's supervision. The arrangement means that the bulk of the collection, comprising around 60,000 negatives, may eventually be viewable online through the Turnbull's catalogue.

James Cowan (1870-1943), a prolific non-fiction author and journalist, is an important figure in New Zealand's intellectual history. The Turnbull already had a significant body of his papers, acquired at various times since the 19505. This latest acquisition contains material in Maori and relating to Maori, and comprises manuscripts (five metres); photographs; artworks; music recordings; newspaper cuttings and scrapbooks; and books and serials (many with insertions or annotations). This collection is thought to be the last remaining tranche in Cowan's possession at the time of his death. It was acquired from direct descendants as a result of the Turnbull Gallery's successful exhibition, Borderland: The World of James Cowan, which showed in 2014. Platinum Earth is a limited edition atlas published in 2012 by Australian publisher Millennium House. At 1.8 x 1.4 metres, it is the world's largest atlas.

It falls within the Turnbull's collecting mandate due mainly to its unique research value, and the significant involvement of Wellington cartographic company Geographx, led by New Zealander Roger Smith.

Making the collections accessible Research services The reading room and distance enquiry services continue to be well used - with usage statistics generally similar to last year. Over 73,000 visits were recorded, including visitors to the Turnbull Gallery and Lilburn Room. The number of items requested for use in the reading rooms numbered around 57,000. Over 13,000 reading room enquiries were handled, and more than 6,700 written enquiries were answered.

Online research guides provide valuable assistance in searching and using the collections. The Turnbull's family history guide was substantially revised and remains its most highly used resource, with nearly 44,000 reads recorded. Usage of the World War One research guide was also notable, at around 15,000 views. Fifty percent of readers of this guide go on to view other material on the website.

Online catalogue records The Turnbull achieved a major milestone this year with the purchase of a new collection management system to replace the existing TAPUHI database. TAPUHI - the Turnbull's catalogue of unpublished materials - includes manuscripts, pictorial collections and oral histories. It has worked well for nearly 25 years, but sits on an outdated platform that is no longer supported. Its replacement is an urgent priority. The Turnbull's new vendor is KE Software and the systems selected are EMu and IMu. A project to implement the new software began in March 2015 and will take most of the calendar year to complete. This project is a primary focus, particularly in the Arrangement and Description area, with staff involved in a range of ways, including data mapping, business process development, and testing.

Copying, digitisation and imaging The Turnbull's Imaging Services team achieved excellent results as demand for digital copies increased. The provision of staff-assisted research copying continued at comparable levels to last year with over 25,000 copies provided, while the number of digital publication-quality copies numbered 11,204, a 9% increase over the previous year. The Turnbull's planned digitisation programme produced over 10,000 images - another significant increase over the previous year's levels.

The Turnbull Gallery The Turnbull Gallery's diverse exhibition programme continued to attract good visitor numbers and positive critical regard. Four exhibitions ran during this period, with a fifth opening in late May. Midway through the year, exhibition length was extended from 10 to 12 weeks, in recognition of resource constraints. A thoughtful approach to public programmes extended the Gallery's profile and audience reach. Several excellent blogs were published in association with the exhibitions, and effective use was made of Facebook albums to promote interest. The Turnbull acknowledges the support of the Alexander Turnbull Library Endowment Trust, Base Two Design, the Friends of the Turnbull Library, and Nga Taonga: Sound and Vision for their support of the Gallery. Thanks are due also to the many individuals who contributed time and expertise to the Gallery's public events programme. A list of exhibitions is included as an appendix.

Exhibition loans Loans to other exhibiting institutions continue to be an important means of connecting Turnbull collections to audiences. This year, 115 items were on loan to 13 galleries around New Zealand and overseas. Notably, 24 items were lent to Nationalgalerie Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, the national gallery in Berlin, for a major show on the work of Gottfried Lindauer.

These were mainly vintage photographs of Maori, and were displayed with paintings from Auckland Art Gallery and Te Papa Tongarewa. Approximately 144,000 visitors saw the exhibition. The largest loan to a single institution was 36 items to the New Zealand Portrait Gallery for their exhibition Capital Characters, Wellington Portraits from Then to Now. The exhibition was curated by former Turnbull manuscripts curator David Colquhoun, and commemorates Wellington's centenary as New Zealand's capital.

Publishing The annual journal the Turnbull Library Record was published in May 2015. This edition's theme was music, in recognition of the centenary of Douglas Lilburn's birth. It contained mainly descriptive essays by library specialists, with a feature piece contributed by former Lilburn Fellow, Dr Philip Norman.

Thirty-two blogposts written by Turnbull staff were published on the National Library website, a large increase over the previous year. Turnbull contributions account for two-thirds of the website's blogposts during the year, and combined, they attracted a readership of over 32,000. The most popular post, with over 2,000 reads, was 'lnk, Cloth, Gold and Style', written by Dr Ruth Lightbourne to accompany the Book Beautiful exhibition in the Turnbull Gallery.

Outreach

The Turnbull's outreach activities focus in two main areas: liaison and promotion; and advisory services.

Liaison and promotion In Auckland, there is a focus to encourage iwi, hapu and whanau to access the Turnbull's collections and services - through direct liaison and indirectly through other information providers. Highlights this year were the Turnbull's presence at the Auckland Heritage Festival, with its emphasis on the role of Maori in World War One, as well as promoting the digitalnz.org website, which provides selected Turnbull collections for exploration and reuse.

The Turnbull welcomed over 1,000 people on a variety of educational visits and tours. Most groups came from New Zealand, with some tertiary groups from Myanmar, Minnesota and Shanghai. In-depth seminars were held for students from Victoria and Massey universities, across topics such as history, photography and Maori writing.

Over 40 promotional events took place. These included author talks, whitegloves show-and-tell sessions, and activities relating to exhibitions. The Turnbull also supported the People's History 2015 speakers' programme, which concentrated on the history and experience of migrant workers.

Advisory services The Turnbull's National Preservation Office (NPO) provides advice and assistance to community groups and agencies on care and preservation of locally held collections. It produces publications and delivers workshops and courses, often in association with Heritage New Zealand and National Services Te Paerangi (Te Papa Tongarewa).

Six workshops or training courses were delivered during the year. One was a workshop on the preservation of cellulosic materials at Knox College in Dunedin. The workshop received financial support from the Preservation Special Interest Group of the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA), and was fully subscribed - with institutional representation from South Canterbury to Southland.

A new publication in the Caring for Taonga series came out, on caring for marae photographs. English and Maori language editions were printed, with web versions and PDF downloads available on the National Library's website. Online channels, particularly Facebook, have been an effective way to publicise NPO services, events and publications. NPO online publications received nearly 6,000 unique page views this year. Seventy-four preservation enquiries were received, and bi-monthly

conservation clinics were also held to deliver one-on-one advice. There was a noticeable increase in iwi organisations seeking advice on how to care for records and collections created through Treaty claims research.

Field Conservator Vicki-Ann Heikell received Te Ropu Whakahau's Meri Mygind Wahine Toa Award, recognising a female Maori who has shown initiative, creativity, dedication and promotion of Maori services within libraries, archives and information repositories and within Te Ropu Whakahau.

Oral history training workshops and advisory sessions continued to be offered to community groups, individuals and iwi/hapu around New Zealand. This year, 83 individuals completed the core oral history training courses, and eight attended an abstracting course. An in-house assessment of the Turnbull's oral history training services included an online survey of oral history practitioners and providers. Preliminary results indicate that the training services are generally held in high regard, and are making a positive difference to oral history practices across the country.

The oral history advisors encourage applications for funding, with the most visible being the New Zealand Oral History Awards administered by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. The advisors also administer applications for the Jack Ilott Oral History Education Trust Fund. In the past financial year, nearly $5,000 was distributed. This supported 12 individuals and five groups to participate in training or the 2014 National Oral History Association of New Zealand conference.

Other activities and highlights

World War One commemorations

A number of library initiatives relating to the centenary came to fruition. In August, TV3 broadcast a series of mini-documentaries called Great War Stories as part of its news hour. Launched in the Beehive by Hon. Chris Finlayson, the series comprised seven short stories, aired on successive evenings over one week. This collaborative project - between the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Archives New Zealand and the Alexander Turnbull Library - drew heavily on Turnbull collection holdings. The agencies worked with AC Productions, who received funding from New Zealand on Air and support from TV3. Subsequently, a second series of seven stories was released during ANZAC week in April. The stories can be viewed online.

In October, the National Library's premier exhibition, A Contemporary Conversation , was opened by the Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. Peter Dunne. The exhibition examined New Zealand's involvement in a number of international conflicts, with a primary focus on World War One. It drew extensively on original items from the Turnbull collections, particularly manuscripts. During its year-long run, case content was periodically refreshed with new stories and collection items.

National Library Exhibitions Manager Peter Ireland curated it, co-ordinating input from a number of specialists, including Turnbull staff. Smaller exhibitions based on Turnbull content were mounted throughout the National Library building in Wellington, including A Child's War, an exhibition in the Turnbull Gallery that looked at the World War One experiences of New Zealand children.

In April, the Chief Librarian was part of a New Zealand delegation that travelled to Turkey as guests of that country's own national library, to participate in Turkey's 51st Library Week celebrations. The week included a conference in (ianakkale on the theme of 'intercultural dialogue', where the Chief Librarian delivered a presentation on the National Library of New Zealand's WWIOO programme. Another member of the delegation, Dylan Owen, undertook a photographic assignment on the Gallipoli peninsula, and a selection of these photographs will be deposited into the Turnbull collections.

In Ankara, the New Zealand delegates met with Turkish colleagues at the National Library of Turkey to discuss professional practice. A highlight of the visit was the presentation of several photographic prints from the Turnbull Library - including a portrait of a Turkish solider from a camera retrieved from Gallipoli. The gift was well received. Discussions were also held with diplomatic staff at the New Zealand Embassy to progress the development of a relationship agreement between the two national libraries. A reference to the relationship was subsequently included in the Turkey-New Zealand Joint Declaration signed by the New Zealand and Turkish prime ministers shortly before the ANZAC ceremonies at Gallipoli.

A large part of the National Library's contribution to the New Zealand WWIOO programme has been the digitisation of relevant Turnbull collections, including manuscripts, photographs, newspapers and sound recordings. Turnbull staff members have written online research guides and blogs to promote these resources, and these have been well used. Several original items from the Turnbull were lent to other institutions around the country to support their own World War One shows. They included the New Zealand Portrait Gallery, Auckland Museum and Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre. Numerous photographic reproductions were supplied to support WWIOO exhibitions and public displays at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the Museum of Samoa, as well as Wellington City Council's ANZAC sound and light show.

Increased public awareness and interest in World War One has seen an increase in the amount of war-related material acquired by the Turnbull, both through donation and purchase. The library expects this to continue throughout the four-year WWIOO programme.

Iwi engagement

The Chief Librarian travelled to Taneatua in February with colleagues from the Department of Internal Affairs, to discuss a work plan with Ngai Tuhoe as part of the Letter of Commitment agreed with the iwi following their Treaty claim settlement. Discussions focused on how the Department can assist with advice and expertise relating to archival and preservation practices for Te Wharepuri facility.

In May, a research group from Ngati Pahauwera travelled to Wellington for a week to meet with experts from the Turnbull Library, Archives New Zealand and Te Papa Tongarewa. The visit was organised by the NPO.

Pasifika

The National Library ran a number of public programmes during the year in support of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs' Pacific Island Languages initiative. This sees particular weeks throughout the year designated to promote the languages of Pasifika nation states including Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Tuvalu, Niue and Tokelau. Turnbull staff made a substantial contribution to these programmes - writing blogs, conducting tours, and holding show-and-tell sessions featuring relevant collection highlights. Particularly noteworthy was an event during Cook Islands Language Week (early August 2014), where members of the Wellington Cook Islands community viewed photographs from the Crown Studios collection, and named many previously unidentified individuals in those photographs.

Later in August, Associate Chief Librarian Rachel Esson travelled to Apia to open an exhibition mounted by the Museum of Samoa, and participate in a programme of events commemorating the centenary of New Zealand's occupation of Samoa. The exhibition included images sourced from the Turnbull's photographic archive.

On 30 April 2015, sponsored by the Friends of the Turnbull Library, Dr Damon Salesa delivered a lecture on Samoa and the First World War to a capacity audience at the National Library. Dr Salesa is Associate Professor of Pacific Studies at University of Auckland, and a former recipient of the National Library Fellowship. The previous evening at the library he spoke at the launch of Niue 1774-1974: 200 years of Contact and Change by historian Margaret Pointer, published by Otago University Press. The event attracted a strong Niuean attendance - many were first-time visitors to the National Library.

New Zealand Cartoon Archive The Turnbull received a grant from the Guardians of the New Zealand Cartoon Archive to complete record descriptions for a collection of nearly 500 original cartoons by Tom Mayne. These were published in the 1950 s and 1960 s mainly in the Christchurch Star Sun, and are now accessible through the library's catalogue.

On 28 February, the Cartoon Archive, in association with the Turnbull, launched a new publication at the library. Brockie: A Memoir in Words, Cartoons and Sketches is an autobiography of cartoonist Dr Robert (Bob) Brockie, whose works are well-represented in the archive. Acclaimed author Lloyd Jones launched the memoir and his speech was published on the National Library website. Proceeds from Cartoon Archive publications are used to promote the archive, support cartoon exhibitions, and fund further cartoon publications.

Lilburn Centenary

The music and legacy of Douglas Lilburn (1915-2001) was celebrated this year in anticipation of the centenary of his birth. On 30 October, he was posthumously inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards in Wellington. Two days later, broadcaster and arts critic William Dart delivered the annual Lilburn Lecture at the Adam Concert Room at the New Zealand School of Music. Radio New Zealand Concert recorded the lecture and aired it later in the year.

In recognition of the Lilburn Centenary, the 2015 edition of the Turnbull Library Record was devoted to the theme of music. The Turnbull also held a winter series of lunchtime concerts featuring an array of New Zealand music and called Lilburn for Lunch.

The Turnbull established its Archive of New Zealand Music in 1974 at Douglas Lilburn's suggestion, and his own papers form its basis. The resource continues to grow as New Zealand composers and performers deposit their papers and archives. Significant recent additions include the John Psathas collection and a number of handwritten scores and sound recordings from Dame Gillian Whitehead.

Lilburn also established the Lilburn Trust, which provides grants and awards to foster New Zealand composition. The Chief Librarian chairs a music advisory committee to consider applications. The most substantial award is the biennial Lilburn Research Fellowship, which provides for a scholar to research the Archive of New Zealand Music. The 2015 fellowship went to Wellington writer and radio producer Chris Bourke. Mr Bourke is working on a companion book to his award-winning Blue Smoke, focusing on New Zealand music during the First World War. He began the Fellowship in January, and is resident at the library for one year.

Poet Laureate

The Chief Librarian oversees the Poet Laureate programme and is responsible for the appointment of each new Laureate. Vincent O'Sullivan was appointed for a two-year term in 2013, and has been active in the role as an advocate for New Zealand poetry, regularly posting on the Poet Laureate blog, as well as writing and performing. The library supported his collaboration with composer Ross Harris to produce Notes from the Front, a song cycle about mathematician and soldier Alexander Aitken. The work premiered at Old St Paul's in Wellington on 28 August. Mr O'Sullivan's other achievements over the last year include winning the poetry category of the New Zealand Book Awards for his volume Us Then, and launching Being Here, a survey of his poetry published by Victoria University Press.

The library also congratulates former Poet Laureate lan Wedde, who received the Prime Minister's Award for Literature in poetry in October.

Staffing matters

This year, several longstanding staff members left the library. David Adams, leader of the Imaging Services team, transferred to a senior role at Archives New Zealand in late January. Mr Adams was with the library for nearly 20 years, overseeing the evolution of imaging services from its early days as a microfilm unit to a multi-function team with wide-ranging expertise in imaging and digitisation.

Kevin Stewart retired in November after 25 years of service. He worked primarily in the manuscripts area, then later in the Arrangement and Description team.

Dr Ruth Lightbourne, Curator of Rare Books and Special Printed Collections, retired in June after 10 years in the role and nearly 20 years with the National Library.

Condolences The Turnbull acknowledges the passing of Margaret Scott in December 2014. Ms Scott was the Turnbull Library's first manuscript librarian, holding the post from 1967-73. As a noted Katherine Mansfield scholar she was the Menton Mansfield Fellow in 1971 and the National Library Fellow in 1989. The library also records its sadness at the passing of New Zealand composer Jack Body in May 2015. Mr Body was a longstanding user, donor and supporter of the Turnbull, and a significant benefactor.

Concluding comments The Turnbull Library continues to perform well in its primary functions of collecting and caring for collections, and connecting them with users. Thanks are due to the many donors and stakeholders who actively support the library and its activities.

Appendix

The Turnbull Gallery Exhibition Programme, July 2014 - June 2015

Extreme South: Antarctica Imagined 7 July - 12 September 2014. Curator: Dr Fiona Oliver Extreme South explored the ways Antarctica was imagined long before it was discovered. The exhibition made use of maps, manuscripts, novels and photographs, and original contemporary artwork by Gabby O'Connor. Nga Taonga: Sound and Vision screened a mini film festival in association with the exhibition.

No Less than Everything: The Art and Times of Janet Paul 15 September - 21 November 2014. Curator: Brendan O'Brien No Less than Everything showcased the Turnbull's holdings of Janet Paul's sketchbooks, artworks and notebooks, along with a selection of works from private owners. The supporting programme included activities for children, poetry readings, a musical recital and an author's talk. The exhibition drew a favourable review in Art New Zealand.

A Child's War: Words and Pictures 24 November 2014 - 27 February 2015. Curator: Mary Skarott A Child's War examined the impact of World War One on the lives of New Zealand children, and the expectations placed on them by the adult world. The accompanying programme included weekend activities for children, as well as lunchtime and evening presentations.

The Book Beautiful: A Feast of Riches from the Rare Book Collection 2 March - 22 May 2015. Curator: Dr Ruth Lightbourne The Book Beautiful was a celebration of some of the most exquisite items in the Turnbull Library's rare book collection. Curator Dr Ruth Lightbourne co-ordinated an extensive programme that covered topics such as calligraphy, conservation, book design and printmaking. A small range of merchandise - bookmarks, postcards and fridge magnets - was produced, based on items from the Rare Book collection. These were designed and produced by the library's Imaging Services team and supported by the Alexander Turnbull Library Endowment Trust.

Tell Tails: Artists Respond to the Turnbull Collections 25 May - 14 August 2015. Artists: Christine Hellyar, Maureen Lander, Jo Torr Using their research into historic images and manuscripts in the Turnbull collections, artists Jo Torr, Maureen Lander and Christine Hellyar created an installation of new artworks. The exhibition drew an immediate favourable response, with excellent reviews on Radio New Zealand and The Big Idea website.