Small but perfectly formed: The Walsh Memorial Library
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Helen Heath visited the small but perfectly formed specialist library attached to Auckland’s Museum of Transport and Technology and was impressed with the breadth of their collection.
On entering MOTAT’s Walsh Memorial Library you might be forgiven for thinking it has small holdings but the library houses an extensive collection of historical records, archives, and materials reflecting Auckland’s social history and New Zealand’s unique history of transport and technology. Library Assistant, Nina Whittaker (who showed me around) and her colleagues are obviously passionate about working there. As you enter the library you can see that children are also important visitors to the library with a toy train and children’s art sitting under the giant propellers on display in the foyer. |
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Named after New Zealand aviation pioneers Leo and Vivian Walsh, the library opened in 1964, and serves to preserve and document heritage items, and provide the Museum staff and public with access to the collection. The library is a reference only facility but the library is open to the public, research requests can be made through the website. The space is also used to display exhibitions related to the library collection.
The Walsh Memorial Library holds an impressive collection of manuscript, pictorial, published, and oral history collections based on New Zealand aviation, transport, technology, and Auckland social histories. The published collections includes books and serials dating back more than a century ago through to the present day. They cover a vast range of topics, from aviation, rail transport, and auto mechanics to printmaking, engineering, and New Zealand social history. They also have a large collection of manuals for a wide range of plane and car models. |
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The library also holds many manuscripts, maps, and plans. These records include manuscripts and hand-written letters from aviation pioneers, plans and blueprints for locomotives and tracks, statistics, and records for New Zealand transport histories, and more.
They also hold over 400 hours of recordings covering themes of aviation, transport, telecommunications, and more. The pictorial collections are currently being digitized, and include significant New Zealand collections like the Whites Aviation and Les Downey rail collections.
The team at Walsh Memorial Library started working on a huge data clean-up in 2017. They have updated more than 70,000 records to date. There were challenges as they worked around crossovers and with different systems. However, changing systems helped the team with defining both the collection and their roles.
They also hold over 400 hours of recordings covering themes of aviation, transport, telecommunications, and more. The pictorial collections are currently being digitized, and include significant New Zealand collections like the Whites Aviation and Les Downey rail collections.
The team at Walsh Memorial Library started working on a huge data clean-up in 2017. They have updated more than 70,000 records to date. There were challenges as they worked around crossovers and with different systems. However, changing systems helped the team with defining both the collection and their roles.
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Their current focus is on enhancing their collection management and engaging stakeholders. They are committed to telling stories through their metadata, one of the ways they are doing this is through their new Online Collection Portal. So, now you can experience MOTAT in your pyjamas!
GLAM sector and technology fans can now spend cold wintery nights cosying up in some flannelette, a pair of fluffy slippers and a fully charged device perusing MOTAT’s new Online Collection Portal. Featuring 83,000+ items and growing by the day, anyone with internet access can now trip down the rabbit hole that is MOTAT’s archive of transport and technology related treasures. Using world respected browser software Vernon Systems, MOTAT has been able to establish swift, safe and in-depth access to its renowned collection through its current website – motat.org.nz. The system is simple, intuitive and comprehensive. Viewers can search by basic terminology, dates, key names or by collection title. You can even search by object colour! ‘We know this will become a valuable tool for specialist researchers,’ explains Philippa Robinson, MOTAT’s Library and Archives Manager. ‘But the opportunities this opens up for the wider public, is what’s really exciting. Thanks to this platform the whole world can experience MOTAT’s collection.’ The digitisation of its collection is part of an overall strategy to expand access to MOTAT and its collections. ‘There is no institution quite like MOTAT anywhere in the country,’ says Alba Letts, General Manager – Collections. ‘Over the course of our 55 years’ operating we have accumulated materials and resources that are historic treasures and invaluable links to our country’s development.’ |
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‘Many of these items are extremely fragile and it would normally be too risky to display these publicly. Thanks to the hard work of our library, spearheaded by Philippa, we can now give everyone access to view these items online.’ MOTAT’s online collection portal feels like a whole new wing of the museum has been unveiled, somewhere where you can conduct your very own private museum tour and where feeding your own curiosity is as easy as a few taps of a finger. The apparently tiny library just got really big. The collection has also been accepted as a contributor to the national Digital NZ network alongside all New Zealand’s other major museums, specialist libraries and research institutes. |
Dig as deep as you wish, or skim the surface of this incredible resource, MOTAT’s online collection will continue to grow and expand for the benefit of all. Check in and take a look here https://collection.motat.org.nz/explore.
And in case you need a little nudge here are a couple of intriguing items to start you on your online MOTAT tour…
And in case you need a little nudge here are a couple of intriguing items to start you on your online MOTAT tour…
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An unusual aircraft
https://collection.motat.org.nz/objects/107833 : John Page. 07 Apr 1971. 7.4.71 Frankton [ZK-HCT Bensen B8mm], PHO-2018-5.2.421. Walsh Memorial Library, The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT). |
A vintage travel poster
https://collection.motat.org.nz/objects/79672 : George Moore. 1957. Air New Zealand : Tahiti, 12-2846. Walsh Memorial Library, The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT). |
A retro toaster
https://collection.motat.org.nz/objects/19398 : Morphy Richards. Circa 1950. Toaster, 2003.58. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT). |
And a surfboard made of wool!
https://collection.motat.org.nz/objects/111541 : Barron Surfboards et al. 2019. Surfboard ['Woolight'], 2019.106. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT). |