A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Turnbull Library Record, Volume I, Issue 1, 1 March 1967, Page 5

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Nigel Williams

As President of the Friends I welcome the resumption of publication of the Turnbull Library Record. Since the last issue in November 1962 much of vital concern to the welfare of the Library has transpired. Mr C. R. H. Taylor, for twentysix years Chief Librarian, retired in August 1963 and his successor Mr J. R. Cole was obliged to retire through ill-health in December 1965. 1964 and 1965 were years of active anxiety during which the Friends endeavoured to obtain the exclusion of the Alexander Turnbull Library from the proposed National Library. In this they were ussuccessful but some modifications to the draft Bill were made which further protected the identity and services of the Library. One of the additional provisions was for the appointment of a Special Committee of the Trustees of the National Library to concern itself particularly with Turnbull matters. The membership and work of this committee is enlarged upon elsewhere in this issue. Since Turnbull became part of the National Library on 1 April last the provisions of the Act with the developments which have followed give us good grounds for hope that the Alexander Turnbull Library while maintaining its essential character will play an increasingly significant role as part of the larger institution in the development and preservation of the printed national heritage.

The National Library building, towards which I understand the first steps in planning have already been taken, will make separate provision for the accommodation of the Alexander Turnbull Library which at the same time will share certain technical services with other divisions of the National Library. Although, on the most hopeful estimates, this building is several years away, the immediate needs of the Library for more extensive and convenient accommodation are pressing and well-known. As an interim measure it may be necessary to move to another building even before the completion of the National Library which could enable the Turnbull holdings to be housed once again in one building instead of the present five.

I know that the Friends in the new organisation will continue to have a most important task to fulfil not merely in the literal sense of friends, but as persons with particular interests in the special collections which are the Library’s responsibility. Again, the regular publication of this journal it is planned to issue two numbers each year will be a major responsibility. It is hoped also to continue, perhaps on a slightly different basis, the series of public lectures which were resumed this year. I would expect that these activities would attract the interest of new members and associates.