Archive to take over valuable records

MARLENE DITCHFIELD | 26th June 2006

The Wairarapa Archive is about to celebrate another milestone with the bringing together of the region's rare historical reference material, previously closely guarded under lock and key at the Masterton District Library.

The material includes rare books, vertical files, old newspapers, the microfiche reader and genealogical data will be placed on new shelving in the archive.

In the past people have had to ask permission to use this material, but it has added strain to the library staff aware of its valuable nature.

"People will still have to ask to refer to the material as always but it's logical to have all the material under one roof," said Wairarapa Archivist, Gareth Winter.

Alterations within the archive itself includes extra viewing from the "backrooms", where all the filing and classification work is done.

To add to this the Archive hours are to change from early August to allow easier access for the public. It will be open from 1-5pm every weekday afternoon from August1.

Previously, the Archive has had split opening times to allow staff to have lunchbreaks and also Wednesdays were completely closed for filing.

"It really only means the Archive is open two more hours a week, but it'll be much easier for people to remember when, said Mr Winter.

"We're finding school pupils are increasingly using the Archive for projects and the new hours should help them in after school time."

The Wairarapa Archive is a unique facility in that there is no other region in New Zealand that has a designated place for the region's history.

Mr Winter says even in the big cities historic records are spread around government departments, museums and libraries.

"In those places the emphasis is to collect and preserve historic records, and often they are not that easily available.

"We pride ourselves on offering a historical information service and have noted Wellington schools are actually coming our way to see how a working archive operates." Mr Winter said the focus is to "get stuff out there to the people."

The Wairarapa Archive began in 1989 at the urging of the Wairarapa branch of the Historic Places Trust when the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington was pushing for regions to preserve their records. The late John Andrew was the fledgling Archive Society's first president. Garry Daniell, who is also the Historic Place Trust chairman, took over from Mr Andrew when he died.