In this track, recorded on World First Folio Day, 23 April 2023, we hear from David Ashman, recently retired manager of Conservation & Digital Preservation at Auckland Libraries.

In 2022, David was able to complete required conservation work on the First Folio, in this talk he describes the background and processes involved in the care of this precious taonga.

You can view a digital copy of the Auckland Libraries' First Folio here:

https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/rarebooks/id/12779/rec/1

or check digital comparisons: www.firstfolios.com

Watch David talk with pictures about his treatment of the Folio here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzVd_Qv_q-A

Find out more about Folio 400 here: https://folio400.com/celebration-2023/

Read more here: http://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2023/05/readers-and-readings-traces-of-use-in.html

"At the start of Mr. William Shakespeares comedies, histories & tragedies, otherwise known as the ‘First Folio’, there’s a note from Shakespeare’s former colleagues to the book’s potential consumers. “To the great Variety of Readers”, it begins, before outlining the reasons people might want to buy – and read – this unprecedented collection of plays".

Image: David Ashman presents at World First Folio Day, April 2023. Photograph by Jane Wild.

Music Credit: Seringapatam composed by Bruce Paine played by Chris Everest at Auckland Libraries Heritage Concert 2023

Alison is joined by the multi-award winning New Zealand author Leonie Agnew, who has just published her novel The impossible story of Hannah Kemp. This is a coming-of-age story and journey of healing through the power of storytelling.

This book can be requested from the Auckland Libraries catalogue using the links below – it is available in multiple formats.

https://bit.ly/3Bx6UoN

This month we have two special cases on display on Level 2 of Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero | Central City Library both with Shakespeare at the heart.

In this track listen and learn from Rare Book curator Jane Wild as she tells us about the items on display for May.

Event: Register to attend this event Saturday 20 May https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/events/2023/05/piringatahi-special-collections-up-close-rare-shakespeare/

In this Piringatahi: Special Collections Up Close event, we delve into the 17th-century publishing history of Shakespeare’s plays. Auckland Libraries is the only institution in the Southern Hemisphere to hold copies of all four 17th-century editions of Shakespeare’s collected plays and early editions of his sonnets.

Find out more about Folio 400 here: https://folio400.com/

A more in-depth read here: http://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2023/05/readers-and-readings-traces-of-use-in.html

Check out the playlist Shakespeare First Folio.

Come see for yourself Kura Tūturu | Real Gold case in the Reading Room Level 2 Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero | Central City Library.

Music Credit: Seringapatam composed by Bruce Paine played by Chris Everest at Auckland Libraries Heritage Concert 2023

Image Credit: The Real Gold case photo by Jane Wild. 2023.

About the letter K - an explanation in Tara's voice.

Nau mai haere mai and welcome to this podcast special on the

Tara McLeod: About Type Exhibition.

In this exhibition curators Jane Wild and Zoe Colling have brought the gallery walls to life with the work and craftmanship of master printer and artist Tara McLeod.

Encounter Tara’s work from across a number of presses held within Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, see additional type face examples and turn your hand to family fun activation with magnetic lettering.

This exhibition is open for young and old to enjoy letters, words, colour, texture, poetry and print!

Recorded at the exhibition opening on the 31 March 2023.

All welcome – April through to early July 2023 at Tāmaki Pātaka Korero – The Central City Library on Level 2. Mon – Friday 9 – 5pm and Saturdays 10 – 4pm.

ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/events/…bition/

Image: 16 inch grotesque: a specimen alphabet of wood type.

Auckland: Pear Tree Press, 1998

Nau mai haere mai and welcome to this podcast special on the

Tara McLeod: About Type Exhibition.

In this track we hear from Book Conservator Ngaio Vince-Dewerse talking with Sue Berman at the exhibition opening about the work of the Preservation team on installing the work of Tara McLeod.

Recorded at the exhibition opening on the 31 March 2023.

Background noise is present through interview

About the Exhibition:

Curators Jane Wild and Zoe Colling have brought the gallery walls to life with the work and craftmanship of master printer and artist Tara McLeod.

Encounter Tara’s work from across a number of presses held within Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, see additional type face examples and turn your hand to family fun activation with magnetic lettering.

This exhibition is open for young and old to enjoy letters, words, colour, texture, poetry and print!

All welcome – April through to early July 2023 at Tāmaki Pātaka Korero – The Central City Library on Level 2. Mon – Friday 9 – 5pm and Saturdays 10 – 4pm.

ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/events/…bition/

Image: Installation of "Hot acrobats perform cheese fog polka" PR: PEAR 1994,

This folded concertina book, a leporello, was printed in an edition of twenty by Tara in 1994. The large wood type featured creates what Jürgen Wegner describes as “one of the great works in New Zealand printing.”

Sound: Sound effect is by Cedric Peyronnet of an 1870s working press.

Nau mai haere mai and welcome to this podcast special on the

Tara McLeod: About Type Exhibition.

In this track we hear curator Jane Wild introduce the exhibition and a reply about his work from Tara McLeod.

Recorded at the exhibition opening on the 31 March 2023.

In this exhibition curators Jane Wild and Zoe Colling have brought the gallery walls to life with the work and craftmanship of master printer and artist Tara McLeod.

Encounter Tara’s work from across a number of presses held within Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, see additional type face examples and turn your hand to family fun activation with magnetic lettering.

This exhibition is open for young and old to enjoy letters, words, colour, texture, poetry and print!

All welcome – April through to early July 2023 at Tāmaki Pātaka Korero – The Central City Library on Level 2. Mon – Friday 9 – 5pm and Saturdays 10 – 4pm.

https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/events/2023/03/tara-mcleod-about-type-exhibition/

Image: The Gallery Level 2, Tāmaki Pātaka Korero, Auckland Libraries.

Sound: Sound effect is by Cedric Peyronnet of an 1870s working press.

This month we have on display a manuscript and two books that feature in common, wooden covers.

In this track listen and learn from Senior Librarian Heritage Renée Orr as she talks to the three items on display for April.

Come see for yourself Kura Tūturu | Real Gold case in the Reading Room Level 2 Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero | Central City Library.

Ben Verhoeven and Gaylord Schanilec. Sylvæ : fifty specimens printed directly from the wood with historical anecdotes & observations. Stockholm, Wisconsin: Midnight Paper Sales, 2007.

https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=69ab3bc4-d77e-59fb-a881-cce0ae7ec73a&entityType=FormatGroup

Image:

Eric Craig. New Zealand Ferns. 1880s.

https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=c2496dd6-85e2-53f6-b123-2e4efd21fc5e&entityType=FormatGroup

Weddase Maryam. 17th century. (EASTMS: G.118)

https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=ba09a935-ef79-5ac7-9d5f-0e850fee2596&entityType=FormatGroup

Alison is joined by the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival curator Bridget van der Zijpp. Find out what to expect at this live and in-person celebration of local and international writing, making and thinking. For more information, visit www.writersfestival.co.nz

Pamata Toleafoa [Senior Librarian Pasifika Research] joins Sue Berman [Oral History Advisor] in conversation about the O le fogava'a e tasi – One family exhibition which celebrates knowledge holders across Te Moananui a Kiwa and their measina (taonga).

In this interview Pamata shares his thinking and creative processes that lead to this project and how the role of Senior Librarian Pasifika Research has enabled this project's success.

The O le fogava’a e tasi – One family exhibition can be viewed on Level 2 of Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero | Central City Library till the end April 2023.

Image: Pamata Toleafoa, 2023, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections

Each year Auckland Libraries works with scholars from the Auckland History Initiative (AHI), a research collaboration at the University of Auckland.

In this series we present research projects from the 2023 Summer Scholars exploring aspects of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland's history.

https://ahi.auckland.ac.nz/

In this track Sasha, Sam, Friederike, Anna and Katia reflect on their research journey with oral historian Sue Berman.

Recorded on 1 March 2023.

Image:

The Reading and Newspaper Room, Leys Institute, 1939, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 850-01