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Geoffrey Alley, Librarian: His Life & Work

Chapter 8 — Anni Mirabiles: The National Library Service

Chapter 8
Anni Mirabiles: The National Library Service

1 'The Opening of the Library School, 18 February 1946', NZL, v.9, Mar. 1946, pp.15-20.

2 The files were lost when the school was closed in 1980, but I remember noting this interesting fact twenty years earlier.

3 D.H. Borchardt, p.c. 16 Aug. 1990; see also D.H. Borchardt, Through a Clouded Mirror, p.91. Borchardt, who graduated from the second class of the Library School in 1947, later had a distinguished career in New Zealand and, especially, Australia.

4 Public Service Act 1912, s.26.

5 Ibid., s.4.

6 NZ Gazette, 14 Mar. 1946, p.325, Proclamation dated 27 Feb. 1946 exempting 'Trainees in the Library School of the National Library Service' from the provisions of the Public Service Act.

page 459

7 AJHR, 1945, H-32A, p.6.

8 McIntosh to Bishop, 23 Oct. 1932, ATL, MS-Papers-6759-208 (marginal comment by Bishop).

9 A.D. McIntosh, 'Libraries Report, August 1933', ATL, MS-Papers-1688.

10 Details of this correspondence are set out in the 1946 correspondence with the PSC referred to below. Alley had also, in 1938, had to decline a request that he report on the possibility of the use by farmers of the Department of Agriculture library (Minister of Agriculture to Fraser, 13 May 1938, NA, NLS 2, Box 3), since he was then busy with the inauguration of the CLS.

11 'University and Research Libraries', NZL, v.7, Dec. 1944, p.205.

12 Alley to Secretary PSC, 20 Mar. 1946, NL, Gracefield records, Box 127; approved by PSC 29 Mar. 1946.

13 Secretary PSC to Permanent Heads, 13 June 1947, PSC 66/10/245 1947/29, McEldowney papers (home).

14 Report of meeting in Dept. of Industries and Commerce, 4 Oct. 1946, NL, Gracefield records, Box 127.

15 H.B. Sullivan, p.c. 9 Sept. 1994.

16 'Hospital Libraries' (including papers by J.H. Norrie and A.G.W. Dunningham), NZLA Proc. 1947, pp. 67-79.

17 Alley to Mason, 27 Aug. 1945 (approved by Mason 28 Aug. 1945), NL, Gracefield records, Box 103.

18 Alley to Mason, 22 Nov. 1944 (approved 23 Nov. 1944), ibid., Box 105. For details of the service see G. Cochrane, 'Prison Libraries in New Zealand'.

19 NZLA, Committee on Technical and Commercial Library Service, minutes, 1 Sept. 1945, ATL, Acc. 79-042-14.

20 Alley to Librarians AP, WP, CP, DP, and DSIR, 14 June 1957 (when another attempt was being considered), NL, Gracefield records, Box 121.

21 Correspondence relating to this appeal, NA, SSC 5, Acc. 1227, Alley.

22 'The Story of a Mob of Sheep' (unsigned), NZ Listener, v.12, no.295, 16 Feb. 1945.

23 Robertson to Alley, 20 Mar. 1945, ATL, Acc. 74-047-3/20.

24 The story of this shipment is told in greater detail in W.T.G. Airey, A Learner in China, pp. 206-8, and J. Bertram, Capes of China Slide Away, pp.268-70. Both Airey and Bertram imply that Alley had raised the matter with Wright Stephenson before the Listener article appeared.

25 Rewi Alley to Clara Alley, 27 Mar. 1947, ATL, Acc. 74-047-3/20.

26 The move to Upper Hutt: R.M. Alley, p.c. 24 Oct. 1990 and 26 Apr. 1994; J. Tait tape.

27 ATL, Acc. 79-042-14, Regional Library Service, July 1946- . Dunningham's draft report and subsequent correspondence, etc., are on this file.

28 Perry to Dunningham, 12 May 1947, ibid.

29 A.G.W. Dunningham, 'Regional Library Service', NZLA Proc. 1947, pp.89-98.

30 NZLA, Regional Library Service, interim report of committee, NZL, v.10, Sept. 1947, pp.170-3.

31 A.G.W. Dunningham, p.c. 21 Aug. 1990.

32 G.T. Alley, 'The Country Library Service', NZL, v.30, Dec. 1967, p.199.

33 AJHR, 1945, I-15, Local Government Committee, p.177.

34 W.J. McEldowney, p.c.

35 For a different and more detailed perspective on this controversy, see M.A. Ronnie, Books to the People, pp.44-50.

36 H.B. Sullivan, p.c. 23 Nov. 1994.

37 A.M.J. Jones, p.c. 5 May 1991.

38 M.A. Ronnie, p.c. 13 Sept. 1999.

39 NZLA Proc. 1947, p.113.

40 G.T. Alley, 'Some People Remembered', NZL, v.44, Mar. 1983, p.4.

41 Alley PGC (Dunningham).

42 P.G. Alley, p.c. Oct. 1990.

43 Barr to Alley, 5 Sept. 1946 (copy, to J. Harris, President NZLA, DUHL, Acc. 84-134).

page 460

44 L.R. McColvin, 'Aspects of the English Public Library System', NZL, v.10, Mar. 1947, pp. 23-35.

45 L.R. McColvin, 'Books and Democracy', ibid., pp.35-9.

46 'Wellington Civic Reception: address by L.R. McColvin, 11th February 1947', ibid., pp.18-23.

47 M.P. Parsons, 'The Library School: an experience in co-operation', NZL, v.9, Nov. 1946, pp.179-84.

48 N. Gordon to Harris, 25 June 1946, DUHL, Acc. 84-134.

49 Colophon: a miscellany from the Library School, v.1 no.1, June 1946; v.1 no.2, Oct. 1946; noted in NZL, v.9, July 1946, p.103.

50 J.P. Sage, 'Books for Reprinting', NZLA Proc. 1947, pp.44-8.

51 R.N. O'Reilly, 'Library Evangelism and the Educational Function of the Public Library', Library Quarterly, v.17, Jan. 1947, pp.18-27.

52 R.M. Wylie, p.c. 14 Apr. 1986.

53 For N. Bateson's impressive CV, see NZL, v.10, Sept. 1947, pp.173-4.

54 McColvin to Alley, 18 Mar. 1947, Alley papers.

55 'United States Information Library: shutters up 31 July 1947', NZL, v.10, Aug. 1947, pp.141-2; see also 'Fiftieth Anniversary of American Libraries in NZ – an informal chronology', USIS Spotlight (newsletter of USIS in NZ), no.7, Aug. 1994, pp.[4-5] (though its figure of stock transferred is incorrect).

56 Alley PGC (Parsons).

57 Ibid.

58 Harris to Alley, 18 Oct. 1947, Alley papers.

59 Collins to Alley, 4 Dec. 1947; Alley to Collins, 5 Dec. 1947, CU, file: NLNZ Library School correspondence 1945- 9.

60 Extract from Special Survey Report, United States Information and Cultural Activities, July 1946 (Record Group 59, Decimal file, 1945-49: 847H.428/11-14, US National Archives), retrieved by B.S. Francis, c/- N.Z. Embassy, Washington, and sent with her letter, 31 Oct. 1990.

61 Parsons to Collins, 23 Sept. 1949, CU, file: NLNZ Library School Correspondence 1945-9.

62 M.P. Parsons, 'The Library School', op. cit., p.183.

63 W.J. McEldowney, 'Valedictory: Austin Graham Bagnall', NZL, v.36, Oct. 1973, pp.347-50.

64 For a fuller account of the range of the Book Resources Committee's interests, see McEldowney NZLA, pp.38-44.

65 AJHR, 1947, H-32A, p.12.

66 AJHR, 1949, H-32A, p.12.

67 AJHR, 1947, H-32A, p.11.

68 A.G.W. Dunningham, Draft Report of NZLA Regional Planning Committee, 14 Apr. 1947, p.8, ATL, Acc. 79-042- 14.

69 G.T. Alley, Comments by the Hon. Secretary [on the above], 24 Apr. 1947, ibid.

70 NZLA, NZ Book Resources Committee, minutes, 19 May 1947, NZLA files.

71 Membership of Book Resources Committee in 1947: Alley (convener), Barr, Collins, Greenwood, Harris, Parsons, Perry, Scholefield, Taylor, NZLA Proc, 1947, p.3.

72 AJHR, 1950, H-32A, pp.2, 6-8.

73 A.P. Taylor, 'Books, Bought or Borrowed?', NZL, v.9, Apr. 1946, pp.56-62.

74 Simmance to Librarian i/c CLS Chch, 7 July 1947, CLS Chch, file: Oamaru.

75 Alley to Town Clerk, Oamaru, 6 Jan. 1948, ibid.

76 H.B. Sullivan, p.c. 3 May 1999.

77 H.B. Cowey, 'Oamaru Public Library', NZL, v.17, May 1954, pp.89-92.

78 H.B. Sullivan (née Cowey, 'Memories of Country Library Service, Christchurch, 1988' (unpublished), McEldowney papers (home).

79 The best description of what they were like, written by one who had been a field librarian, is A.E. Mercer, 'Those "B" Libraries', NZL, v.14. Nov. 1951, pp.256-62.

80 NZLA, Standing Executive Committee, minutes, 20 Mar. 1947, NZL, v.10, Apr. 1947, p.66.

page 461

81 NZLA, Otago Branch to Bibby (secretary NZLA), 18 Mar. 1947, ATL, Acc. 79-042-6.

82 Scholefield to W.H. Shepardson (Carnegie Corporation), 22 Aug. 1947; Shepardson to Scholefield, 13 Nov. 1947, ATL, MS-Papers-0212- 35.

83 Alley to Shepardson, 3 Mar. 1948, Columbia University Libraries, MS Coll., CCNY.

84 P.G. Alley, p.c. Oct. 1990.

85 NZLA, Book Resources Committee, 'Summary of Activities 1941-1950', p.13, McEldowney papers (home).

86 NZLA, Annual Report 1947, NZL, v.11, Apr. 1948, p.72.

87 NZLA to CCNY, 29 Aug. 1949; CCNY to NZLA, 28 Nov. 1949 and 20 Jan. 1950, NZLA files.

88 W.J. McEldowney, 'Valedictory', NZL, v.36, Oct. 1973, pp.347-50.

89 C.W. Collins, 'Co-operation – the Background', NZLA Proc. 1947, pp.26-31 (quote on p.27).

90 Interloan Rules and Procedure.

91 AJHR, 1950, H-32A, p.14.

92 W.J. McEldowney, 'Harris, William John (1903-1980)', in J. Thomson, ed., Southern People, p.213; correspondence between Mellanby and Harris, July and Aug. 1948, DUHL, Acc. 80-094, Box 26.

93 NL, Gracefield records, Box 115.

94 B.C Dowling, 'Farewell Ode to John Harris Leaving for Foreign Parts', DUHL, Acc. 80-094, Box 4.

95 C.W. Collins, 'John Harris – Valedictory', NZL, v.11, Dec. 1948, pp.269-72.

96 Alley PGC (Harris).

97 H.O. Roth, 'John Harris in New Zealand', NZL, v.42, Oct. 1979, pp.48-52.

98 D.O. Bozimo, 'John Harris: NZ's Gift to Nigerian Library Education', NZL, v.43, Sept. 1981, pp.105-8.

99 A.G. Bagnall, 'Reflections on Some Unfinished Business: the Retrospective National Bibliography 1946-1976', NZL, v.40, no.2, 1977, pp.40-6.

100 Ibid.

101 Alley PGC (Bagnall).

102 D.H. Borchardt, 'The Library School – an extreme view', NZL, v.12, Dec. 1949, pp.277-8.

103 Who's Who in New Zealand Libraries 1951.

104 From Gabriel Read's description of his discovery of gold at Tuapeka on 23 May 1861, quoted in many histories, including J.H.M. Salmon, A History of Goldmining in New Zealand, pp.51-2.

105 NZLA Proc., 1946-1949.

106 J. Harris, 'Training for Librarianship in New Zealand', NZL, v.11, Dec. 1948, pp.273-7.

107 NZLA, Library Training Committee, minutes, 13 Feb. 1945, ATL, Acc. 79- 042-48.

108 AJHR, 1945, H-32A, pp.6-8.

109 NZLA conference resolution, and related papers, NZL, v.11, July 1948, pp.159-63.

110 Minister of Education to NZLA, received 11 Aug. 1948, ATL, Acc. 79-042-48; NZL, v.11, Sept. 1948, pp.222-3.

111 NZL, v.12, June 1949, pp.130-2. Final form of report, NZL, v.12, Oct. 1949, pp.233-5.

112 'Branch Notes: Wellington', NZL, v.12, Aug. 1949, pp.189-90.

113 AJHR, 1952, H-32A, p.8.

114 Already quoted in chapter 6.

115 NZLA to Private Secretary to the Minister of Education, 2 Mar. 1944, ATL, Acc. 79-042-12.

116 Minister of Education to NZLA, 17 Apr. 1944, ibid.

117 NZLA to Minister of Education, 27 June 1944, ibid.

118 Beeby to NZLA, 24 Aug. 1944, ibid.

119 Recommendation of Education Conference, 7 Nov. 1944, ibid.

120 Alley to Minister of Education, 17 July 1945 (approved by Minister 19 July), NA, NLS 2, Box 8.

121 NZLA submission to Consultative Committee on Adult Education, 16 July 1945 (sent to Minister with Alley's letter of 17 July), ibid.

122 N.Z. Consultative Committee on Adult Education, Further Education for Adults, p.44.

page 462

123 To sort out the Ministerial Conference, the Consultative Committee, and the Act, see J.C. Dakin, Focus for Lifelong Learning, pp.14-22.

124 C.E. Beeby, p.c. 19 Oct. 1988.

125 C.E. Beeby, The Biography of an Idea, pp.147-8.

126 N. Alcorn, To the Fullest Extent of his Powers, pp.57, 63, and 337 (the last reference not indexed).

127 J.S. Wright, p.c. 11 July 1989.

128 C.E. Beeby, The Biography of an Idea, pp.147-8.

129 P.G. Alley, p.c. Oct. 1990.

130 Sir Jack Hunn, p.c. 22 Aug. 1991.

131 L.M. Graham, p.c. 24 Aug. 1991.

132 A.M.J. Jones, p.c. 22 Nov. 1990; H.B. Sullivan, p.c. 6 Oct. 1989.

133 Alley to Harris, 6 Dec. 1945, DUHL, Acc. 84-134. Monro's appointment to DU was noted in NZL, v.9. Mar. 1946, p.34.

134 J.L. Roberts, p.c. 6 Sept. 1990.

135 R.M. Wylie to McEldowney, 14 Apr. 1986, McEldowney papers (home).

136 McEldowney NZLA, p.38.

137 A.C. Swan, History of New Zealand Rugby Football, .v.2, 1946-1957, p.14.

138 R.M. Alley, p.c. Apr. 1991.

139 G. Harper, Kippenberger, pp.274-6; J.K. Hunn, Not Only Affairs of State, pp.69-70.

140 The Labour Party Head Office has no record of his membership: "Regrettably we have very sparse records in relation to membership and regional or electoral information of this period,' letter, 27 Aug. 1993. But Alley once showed me his membership card.

141 R.M. Alley, p.c. 22 Aug. 1994. M. Bassett and M. King, in Tomorrow Comes the Song, p.340 refer to the Labour Party's loss of members who dropped out because of CMT.