Motueka Historical Association visits the upgraded Tasman District Library

(April 2011)
by Coralie Smith

The upgraded Tasman District Library in Richmond is usually closed on Saturday afternoons but two of the staff, Cathy Vaughn and Karen Dickenson, gave up their day in the garden to give the Motueka Historical Association a guided tour.

Most of us hadn't been in the library since the upgrade and were amazed at the space that has been achieved. All this space was in use on the days before and after Easter with 1500 people passing through the doors each day.

As well as being shown where the various categories of books are shelved, the help desk and the issues desks (which by the way can be lowered when a wheelchair client or a child is being served) we were shown the young adult area with CDs and computers, the children's part with bright play pool and cube seats and a mothers room for changing babies.

There is plenty of seating for those wanting to rest or read and even a Sky television in the newspaper section usually tuned to a news station but used also to bring big events of the world into the library. A small café in one corner opening to an outside courtyard is positioned so coffee drinkers can read the magazines while getting their fix.

Most surprising was a sound-proof room where people can record themselves playing music or recording oral history. Very popular with teenagers, it is also used by schools to record music for performances. A large scanner may also be used for digitizing your photographs.

A meeting room is proving very popular also. Complete with tea making facilities, computer and data projector for seminars and workshops as well as access to the internet it is able to be used after hours as all doors leading to the main library can be locked. Called the Constance Barnicoat room, after the wife of John Barnicoat, a woman before her time but usually in the shadow of her better known husband, it is a real asset to the library and a revenue earner for the council. That is always good news to the ratepayer too.

Upstairs is a small learning pod, the in word for a room, with five computers all connected to the internet and able to be used for introducing people to computers, the internet and family history.

We didn't get to see the staff rooms but were assured that there was plenty of room now for the 22 staff who work full and part time at the library to have meetings or a cup of tea, without having to sit on each others knees.

What was of most interest to us was the Research Room. Able to be closed off by sliding glass doors it was again the space that amazed us. Resources are basically those that belong to the Waimea Historical Society who have entered into an agreement with the Tasman District Council that the archives will remain at the library and will be looked after and controlled by the library staff.

The archives are being added to all the time and to promote this the library has set up a website called Kete Tasman. Here you can view online from home the photos which have been digitized and find out what else the library has in the archives. Other groups are adding their own kete e.g. The Nelson Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists has added their list of archives and we have been invited to add ours.

Cathy Vaughn has been involved with The Prow from the beginning and showed us very proudly the website which is the result of many hours of volunteer work. It is an archive of stories about local events and people. Fifty were put on initially but that number has grown to over 200. All are referenced and sources acknowledged just like a book.

Also listed are other related sources. Again, people are invited to add their stories. If you aren't computer literate then Cathy can arrange someone to type it up for you. Photos can be added and the stories are edited and again referenced with links to related sources. The Prow is getting a reputation with schools as a first port of call for history of the Top of the South as the links are a quick way to find all the works on one subject in one place.

The whole building is enclosed in glass which makes it very light and sunny. The sliding doors make access easy. Parking is right outside the back doors in Petrie car park. There is a lift or stairs to access the first floor. It is a credit to the people who planned the building and seemed to have thought of everything.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have something similar in Motueka! It's on the 10 year plan, I believe, but if we really felt passionate about improving the space in our local library we could lobby some councillors to get things moving sooner or ensure the 10 years doesn't get stretched to 20.

Thank you Cathy and Karen for your guided tour of a wonderful facility which we as ratepayers should be accessing often either in person or via the computer.

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