Who made the business case for throwing out most of the National Library’s books? Nobody. There is no such good case, but Book Guardians Aotearoa has outlined the case for keeping them. Read on... Three years ago the former Minister of Internal Affairs, Tracey Martin, signed off on the National Librarian’s proposal to get rid … Continue reading The business case for keeping the nation’s books
How ironic
The Book Guardians note the irony of the National Library asking for a copy of the Book Guardians Aotearoa poster for a collection which lacks a curator! To Bill Direen and Phantom Billstickers – a huge thank you and cheers for donating your time, skills, materials and effort to designing, printing and putting up the … Continue reading How ironic
Media Release 26 March: the Books’ Case – it is BGA who speaks for and cares for books
BGA media release sent out March 26, following the meeting with the Minister for the National Library Jan Tinetti on 24 March. The Books’ Case On March 24 at a meeting at the Beehive about the disposal by the National Library of New Zealand’s overseas book collection, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon Jan … Continue reading Media Release 26 March: the Books’ Case – it is BGA who speaks for and cares for books
Decolonising the National Library of New Zealand
Christine Dann* writes that ignoring the views of Maori and all New Zealanders in what happens to our National Library is 21st century colonialism, pure and simple. The other day I told a Maori neighbour that the National Library (NL) plans to get rid of 90% of its books which were published overseas. “Why would … Continue reading Decolonising the National Library of New Zealand
Nelson Wattie writes to the Minister for the National Library
In response to the Book Guardians' disappointing visit on 24 March 2021 to see Minister of Internal Affairs Jan Tinetti, Book Guardians Advisory Member Nelson Wattie wrote to the Minister pointing out the international reputational damage being done to New Zealand by this action. Dr Wattie's letter is reproduced below. We await with interest to see … Continue reading Nelson Wattie writes to the Minister for the National Library
Book Guardians Briefing to the Minister of Internal Affairs
Briefing Paper for the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. Jan Tinetti from Ngā Kaitiaki o ngā Pukapuka/Book Guardians Aotearoa, March 2021 Ngā Kaitiaki o ngā Pukapuka/Book Guardians Aotearoa (KP/BGA) was formed in 2020 to channel widespread public opposition to the disposal of the National Library’s Overseas Published Collection (OPC) of 600,000+ books. This briefing … Continue reading Book Guardians Briefing to the Minister of Internal Affairs
Bill Direen on saving the books
On February 25 writer and musician Bill Direen appeared on the Otago Arts Hub podcast talking to Tania Robinson and Beris Forde about his latest music and writing, and also about his latest issue of national importance – the National Library throwing out most of its books. Bill is so concerned about this matter that … Continue reading Bill Direen on saving the books
The purpose of the National Library
Book Guardians Aotearoa welcomes a discussion on the purpose of the National Library of New Zealand. Lydia Wevers made some very good points in this regard in a recent (January 2021) letter to the Dominion Post in Wellington. We support her call for an open debate on what a National Library is for and the … Continue reading The purpose of the National Library
A cultural and intellectual impoverishment
Dr Jonathan Lee, scholar of the Near East, writes about the National Library's book culling I am a British-born scholar and New Zealand citizen specializing in the social history of Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Indo-Iranian borderlands and in Islam and Muslim-Christian relations. My doctorate in Religious Studies is from the University of Leeds and … Continue reading A cultural and intellectual impoverishment
Beethoven is a New Zealander
Brian Easton writes about the Disposing of Our Heritage. The National Library is still disposing of books from the nation’s heritage. The Department of Internal Affairs juggernaut rolls on. Its briefing to the incoming minister says that its roles include ‘holding the nation and the Government's memory through the National Library of New Zealand and … Continue reading Beethoven is a New Zealander
