Address to the 90th Anniversary of the Alexander Turnbull Library

Welcome here tonight everyone, thank you for coming and for asking me to say a few words.

Since becoming the Responsible Minister - exactly one year ago today - it's become very clear to me that the Alexander Turnbull Library has a lot of friends.

Perhaps what has struck me the most about the National Library and the Turnbull Library is the passion of those involved.

Amongst the staff, it is clear this is more than just a day job - it is a real dedication.

The same goes for users and supporters of the Library, who are fiercely proud of this institution. And rightly so.

I'm sure most of you know the history of the Turnbull Library.

It was 1918 when Alexander Turnbull gifted his extensive collection to the nation. Over time this has been built up through donations, bequeaths, and targeted purchasing.

Thanks to Mr Turnbull and many other supporters, the Library now has grown to include millions of items.

It is recognised as the foremost heritage research library in New Zealand, and has an international reputation.

It has certainly been an eventful 90^th year for the Turnbull Library.

I want to say a few about the integration of the National Library, Archives New Zealand and the Department of Internal Affairs.

Firstly, can I outline why the government is doing this.

As the Minister responsible for all three agencies I believe they share natural synergies. They all have a common focus on using digital technology and making public information widely accessible to citizens.

This move will allow expertise and resources to be combined, while at the same time sharing back office costs.

We expect this will generate millions of dollars a year in savings, all of which will be redirected into better frontline services for the public.

The integration is not about changing the major roles and functions of the National Library or the Turnbull Library.

One issue I've had raised with me is the status of the Chief Librarian after this integration.

We've made it clear that the statutory roles and functions of this position will be preserved and protected.

The Chief Librarian will be appointed by the chief executive of the new department, on the recommendation of the National Librarian.

In my view, this change of reporting lines will make very little material difference.

There are already several similar positions within the public service, such as:

• the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
• the Director of Civil Defence Emergency
• the Surveyor-General
• the Registrar-General.

All of these positions are employed by a chief executive and have important statutory roles, regardless of what tier they might be.

There will continue to be a separate Budget vote, and as the responsible Minister I will continue to receive independent advice from the Guardians of the Turnbull Library.

The Chief Executives of all three departments are currently working through the operational details of the integration, and I'm pleased that Chris Szekely as Chief Librarian is playing a senior role in this.

Legislation to amend the National Library Act 2003 with a few tweaks will be introduced by the end of July, and it will be largely minimal and technical.

This Act confirmed that the Turnbull collections are owned by the Crown, to be held in perpetuity. That will not be changing.

Consultation with stakeholders, such as the Guardians and Friends of the Turnbull is well underway. The public will also have the chance to contribute through the select committee process.

Thank you for all the feedback I've had so far.

Can I also thank the staff of the National Library and the Alexander Turnbull Library who have been very professional throughout this whole process.

This government values important, iconic institutions like the National Library, Archives New Zealand and the Alexander Turnbull Library. 

And we've been "putting our money where our mouth is" to back it up.

• $52 million into modernising the National Library
• $1.9 million into a new Auckland centre for the National Library which I'll be opening next month
• $12.4 million in the recent 2010 Budget for a Government Digital Archive. That's new extra money to help preserve and store digital information for future generations to enjoy.

Finally, can I thank you again for coming tonight. I want to especially thank everyone here tonight who has been involved with the Turnbull Library in some way over the last 90 years.

It is a remarkable milestone we're celebrating tonight.

The reason for this success is not just the books and the physical material, but the people behind the scenes. 

It is the staff, the friends, guardians, users and supporters, who have made this achievement possible.

With your continued support, I believe the Turnbull Library has an exciting future and will continue to be an iconic institution for future generations to enjoy. 

Happy 90^th Birthday.