Kia ora,

Jamie and I attended Pecha Kucha Christchurch the other night. It was a really interesting evening. Best of all was seeing how many people presented who have carried out research in Macmillan Brown, including Andre Lovatt from the Arts Centre, Katharine Watson from Underground Overground Architecture, Rosemary Baird from Heritage NZ, Jenny May, Lucy Jane from Ceismic and Lloyd Carpenter, who recently completed his PhD.

It’s amazing to see how the UC Library collections are aiding the Chch rebuild and improving knowledge about NZ heritage in general. We are definitely helping the University connect with the community.

More info about Pecha Kucha here – http://www.pechakucha-chch.org/PKN_CHCH_23

Well done everyone.

Erin

Jo and I worked at the WWI information day at Wigram yesterday. It was really interesting and we heard a few great stories. If you didn’t catch One news last night, the event was featured. Heres the link.
The story is at about 18.50

Cheers
Erin

Connecting: Past, Present and Future
The 2014 joint ARANZ/ASA conference committee warmly invites you to join us from September 29 – October 3 in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The conference theme, Connecting: Past, Present and Future takes its cue from the built environment of Christchurch – a city renegotiating its relationship with its past, creatively engaging with its present landscape, and in the process of reinventing its future after the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. The theme also acknowledges that the continued success and relevance of our profession requires us to renegotiate and reinvent our relationships in a changing profession; to make connections across professional and sector boundaries; to connect with the range of communities and users who need and use the records for which we are responsible and whose activities require documentation; and to connect with those who require our skills to support government and organisational commitments to good governance.

It is a great time to be an archivist or records manager. The joint ARANZ / ASA conference provides an exciting opportunity for archivists and records managers from across Australasia to connect with each other and share our challenges and solutions.

It is also a great time to come to Christchurch. The excitement and energy of the city reinventing itself recently influenced The New York Times to place Christchurch second on their list of places to go in 2014.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/01/10/travel/2014-places-to-go.html?hpw&rref=travel&_r=1

Stay tuned to the ARANZ and ASA websites, listservs and newsletters for more information.
Archives and Records Association of New Zealand website: http://www.aranz.org.nz/Site/events/Conferences/2014_ARANZ_ASA.aspx
Australian Society of Archivists website: http://www.archivists.org.au/page/Learning_and_Publications/Conference/2014_Conference/
A call for papers for follow in the coming weeks.

Many thanks from the conference committee:
Tom Norcliffe and Adelaide Parr (co-chairs) Mark Crookston Erin Kimber Jo Condon Aaron Braden

Hi

I’m in the midst of moving offices and currently have no ph line. Please put any calls for me to the MB Front Desk.

Cheers
Erin

Lydia had her son Thaddeus this morning at 5.17. Weight 7.14 lbs. Mum and baby both doing well.

Erin

Time of Mirth and Play: Graduation Traditions of UC

Central Library 5 October – 1 November 2013

A new exhibition uses items from the Macmillan Brown Library collections to explore how Graduation has changed at UC from the late 19th century until today. Curated by Ngaio Hughey-Cockerell and Kimberley Hayes, Time of Mirth and Play highlights significant themes and ideas that demonstrate the changing nature of Graduation as a tradition.

Ngaio and Kimberley have worked on the exhibition as the practical component of their history honours course, Public and Applied History, co-ordinated by Dr. Lyndon Fraser. They have been working one morning a week in MB, under my supervision. The exhibition is entirely their own work, from the concept and research, to the design and label writing. This is the first time they have worked on a project of this sort and I am very happy with the outcome. Read more about Ngaio and Kimberley in their post on the library blog .

Ngaio and Kimberley will be giving a floor talk of the exhibition on Wednesday 16 October at 10.30, in the Central Library. All are welcome if you can make it.

Please direct any enquiries about the exhibition to me.

Cheers

Erin Kimber
UC Library Archivist

This semester, Lydia and I have been working with School of Fine Arts graphic design students on a project inspired by items held in the library collections. Their supervisor is Luke Wood, Lecturer in Design. These 3rd year students have been using the SFA archives and artworks in MB Library to research the history of design at the school. They have then created their own works in response to the archive items and also a publication.

You are warmly invited to view the exhibition of both new work by the students and historical items from the Macmillan Brown Library.

The exhibition opens Friday 24 May at 5.30 and runs until Thurs 30 May at Room Four Gallery, 336 St Asaph Street (between Galaxy Records and The Darkroom). Have a look at the website for location and hours: http://www.roomfour.co.nz/

Thanks

Erin Kimber and Lydia Baxendell
Macmillan Brown Library

Nekerangi, Caroline and I are happy to announce that Nick Scullin will be joining the MB team as a full-time library assistant. Most of you will know Nick from his work at Education and Law. Previously he was at Chch City Libraries.

Nick will start with us on May 27.

Kia ora koutou,

Just to let you know about a session Dave, Lydia and I are doing on Tues 9 October
for students considering postgrad study in 2013. If you get any enquiries about this, please direct them to me. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please encourage them to come along.
Here’s the blurb from Library news:

Considering postgrad study in 2013?

Instead of rehashing the same information from secondary sources, be an innovator in your field and advance knowledge using the University’s rare and unique library collections.
Add your voice to scholarly conversations about New Zealand’s past by:

– Studying firsthand accounts from the trenches of WWI
– Exploring labour and industrial history through 19th century trade union and business records
– Investigating the impact of groups campaigning for social change, through the archives of many groups such as National Council of Women, Halt All Racist Tours and the Howard League for Penal Reform
– Probing the papers of Canterbury politicians and political parties such as Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Ruth Richardson, the NZ Labour and National parties
– Analyzing personal letters from the time of the New Zealand wars
– Using personal papers and art works to re-examine the lives of notable New Zealand academics, artists and writers such as Keri Hulme, Ngaio Marsh, Ursula Bethell and Leo Bensemann
– Questioning how student organisations shaped life in Christchurch through the archives of student groups such as University of Canterbury Drama Society and the Bishop Julius Hall Association
– Researching Christchurch’s built history through our comprehensive collection of architectural drawings
– Investigating how UC shaped the art scene in Christchurch using the School of Fine Arts records as well as personal papers and artworks from past teachers and students

Join librarians Erin Kimber and Dave Clemens and UC Art Collections Curator Lydia Baxendell to learn more about the collections held at UC and their postgrad research potential. Summer is a great time to investigate possible research topics in the archives, and we are eager to help you plan your project.

Where and When: Central Library Room 210, Tuesday 9 October, 12 p.m.
Please register your interest by emailing erin.kimber@canterbury.ac.nz