Photographs of Country Library Service book vans, staff, Hamilton Country Library Service building, and National Library building, Palmerston North

Images relate to the work of the Country Library Service (Hamilton) branch of the National Library of New Zealand between 1954 and 1989. Also includes images of the National Library building in Tremaine Avenue, Palmerston North taken soon after its opening which relate to the work of the Country Library Service and School Library Service units based there.

Black and white images taken in 1950s include book vans on coastal road between Coromandel and Colville 30 October 1959, book van ED317 driven by Field Librarian Joe O'Neill (not visible) in Northland, book vans including original van ED103 parked outside old Hamilton Country Library Service building, book van ED103 in a ditch at Ruahine, July 1957, a book van on a gravel road in far North mid 1950s. Undated images show various views of book vans in rural locations, interior views show rural women browsing books and Joe O' Neill writing in book. Photograph taken by Waikato Times shows Librarians Allan Mercer and Margaret Johnston outside book van EDL6 at Hamilton Country Library branch.

Three black and white photographs with matching negatives show closer views of the ED317 and ED103 book vans. Probably taken circa 1950s to early 1960s.

Black and white images taken in the 1960s show borrowers outside the 'Queen Mary' book van parked next to the Waimamaku hall, Hokianga, with a Humber car parked nearby (licence plate dated 1956-1961), a Colombo Plan student posing beside a book van and eating a sandwich inside, the Hamilton Country Library van dock 1962. Includes a colour photograph taken in December 1965 of a book van crossing a rural bridge. Includes a greeting card with a photograph of a book van on a South Westland road mounted on the card.

Black and white images taken 1971 to 1972 show exterior and interior views of book vans (including EDL6) parked outside the Hamilton Country Library building, people inside book van at Kerikeri, and book van EDL1 at Waitakaruru and a person visiting the van on a country lane.

Colour photographs taken in the late 1970s to 1980s show rural women looking at books displayed on the outside of a book van in a country town, Librarians David Stephens, Sarah Poulton and John Gully posing with four book vans from different years outside the Hamilton Country Library building taken circa 1978, book vans with 'National Library of New Zealand Extension Service' signs and silver fern logo, National Library book van J1 taken circa 1979. Two photographs taken by Alex Reid show the book van NL19 stuck on the road through Waipoua Forest 1981. Two photographs show the National Library of New Zealand book van outside a 'War Memorial Library' (possibly Warkworth).

Includes eleven black and white photographs showing exterior and interior views of the National Library building on Tremaine Avenue, Palmerston North. Shows book van leaving loading bay, courtyard, foyer, adult services and school library services areas, display areas, staff mending books and working in dispatch areas. Ergonomic office design and equipment includes trolley, typewriter and pigeon holes (no computers). Photographs taken by Bruce Watt Photographic Studios Ltd.

Accompanying information - Annotated envelope.

Quantity: 43 b&w original photographic print(s) including 3 with corresponding original negatives. 10 colour original photographic print(s).

Physical Description: Dye coupler prints, silver gelatin prints