McArtney, Thelma, 1912-2002

Date: 14 April 1989 - 14 Apr 1989

From: NZOHA Country Library Service Oral History Project

By: McArtney, Thelma, 1912-2002

Reference: OHInt-0058/10

Description: Thelma McArtney gives details about her family background, her father's employment history, including his time in charge of Larnach's Castle while it was a psychiatric institution, her mother's musical abilities, family health, her parents' religious and political beliefs, their attitudes to smoking and alcohol and their ideas on discipline. Recalls the importance of both reading and music in her early life, giving details of books read and of her piano lessons. Details her educational history, commenting on teachers, subjects, participation in sport and sex education. Comments on the effect of the Depression on her family. Gives details of her nursing training and employment and gives reasons why she chose to work in mental health area. Describes her marriage to Kenneth McArtney and gives details of his family background, attitude to reading, his health and death from cancer in 1950, his war years as a pianist in the camps in Alexandria (Egypt) and his career in the Education Board, in Napier, Wanganui and Wellington. Describes living with various members of her family in the South Island after her husband's death and how she became involved with the Patearoa Country Library Service library while she was there. Describes settling in Palmerston and taking over the local Country Library Service library. Details pay, collections, visit of first book van with Field Librarian Owen Simmance, living at the library, introducing children's books and loan system and comments on the run down state of the Palmerston library. Details becoming Librarian at the Ashburton Public Library in 1958, pay rates, working with the local Town Clerk, the state of the library when she arrived, getting a loan of Country Library Service books and two staff being sent by Jean Wright from Christchurch to assist in re-establishing the library. Describes her work to build up the library, the special loan collections from the National Library, new staff, raising the image of the library in the community, attending conferences, writing reports on the need for a new building and the visits from overseas libraries. Describes the building of the new library. Recalls doing the Library Certificate training, 1956-1959, talks about G T Alley and Jean Wright, the difference between National Library and other libraries and the importance of going to conferences. Details her move to Waimairi County Library in 1967, being responsible for setting up library service, staff appointments, building up the book stock, planning the new building, problems with associated libraries, readers and staff and the relationship with Country Library Service and National Library. Recalls withdrawal of Enid Blyton books and being responsible for book selection. Notes that she established the Redwood and the Fendalton library during this time. Describes working at the Canterbury University Engineering Library, 1971-1973. Talks about Courtney Shearer who was in charge of this library and discusses difficulties working in a library where she was not in charge and did not know the stock and subject matter. Describes her retirement and move back to Ashburton and reflects on her library career. Venue - Ashburton Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Venue - Mrs McArtney's home at Ashburton Accompanying material - Printed abstract contains photocopy of a New Zealand Woman's Weekly interview with Thelma McArtney about the Ashburton Public Library, dated 8 February 1965. Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002040, OHC-002041, OHC-002042 Tape numbers - OHA CLS 2602, 2603, 2604, 2605, 2606, 2607 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 305. Printed abstract contains a portrait photograph of Thelma McArtney dated July 1945; a photograph of Thelma McArtney and Russell Sutherland at the launching of book `Land of the Bog Cotton' at Ashburton Public Library in 1960; a photograph of the Ashburton Public Library staff including Thelma McArtney in 1966 and a photograph including Thelma McArtney dated 5 March 1988 taken at the marriage of Monica McKone to Roger McArtney. Search dates: 1912 - 1989

Date: 1960-1986

From: Alley, Geoffrey Thomas, 1903-1986 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-8130-3

Description: Correspondence, reports, speeches, notices, obituaries, clippings etc relating to Alley's work in libraries and with librarians and his interest in libraries Quantity: 1 folder(s).