Heritage et AL

Today, the Auckland Public Library is a modern center of learning, community connection, and  houses an abundance of books. Many of us see the library as a vital public necessity, something  justifiably funded through rates and other government revenue. Few would ever question our  right to access books for free. However, this wasn’t always the case. Similarly, the Auckland  Public Library occupies a purpose-built space that is both functional and conducive to learning  and connection. Again, this also wasn’t always the case. A central part of the story of the  Auckland Public Library lies in the growing recognition of the library as a place of importance,  and the changing role of the library throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Over a  series of four articles, I will explore key stages of development for our treasured Library. This  article starts at the beginning, and it will explore the Auckland Public Library’s early days, ...

While checking some of our earlier magazines in our basement I came across a London magazine called 'The Builder; an illustrated weekly magazine for the architect, engineer, archaeologist, constructor & artist '.  Ref: The builder, Title page, 1856, Central Auckland Research Centre, Auckland Libraries, 690.5 B93. Ref: The builder, page 515, 1856, Central Auckland Research Centre, Auckland Libraries, 690.5 B93.

My grandfather John Barr (1887-1971) was the chief librarian at Auckland Public Library from 1913-1952 . Ref: Photographer unknown, John Barr, City Librarian, no location or date, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 360-10 Often called “Jack”, he was born in Glasgow, the son of a tin smith. His mother, Rebecca (née Witherington), was a mill worker before she got married. She appears to have valued education, though may not have been very literate herself. Jack started working for the Mitchell Library in Glasgow when he was 13 or 14. Jack is pictured below in this 1906 photo with fellow Mitchell Library cadet Abe Cunningham, in front of a statue donated to Glasgow by John Stewart Kennedy. Abe Cunningham later worked at the Auckland Public Library as a cataloguer. Ref: Photographer unknown, John Barr with Abe Cunningham Glasgow,  1906, from The Munro-John Barr Album (private family album) My grandmother, Jessie Isabella Mary MacPherson (1889-1979)...

New Zealand writer Jane Mander (1877-1949) lived overseas for 20 years, spending time in New York and then in London. During this period she published six novels. She returned to New Zealand in October 1932, with the intention of writing further fiction novels. However, due to the poor health of her elderly, demanding father (who lived to be 95) she ended up having to balance being a care giver with journalism work. Since she had no other income, she took on a strenuous workload of magazine articles, book reviews and radio talks. Ref: 7-A9827, Jane Mander, 1890s, Sir George Grey Special Collections