Editorial1 November, 2021 (printed edition)Save Our BooksThe writers in this anthology have made a unified appeal for the National Library of New Zealand (NLNZ) to end its policy of disposing of valued ‘overseas published’ books. To our knowledge, “secure destruction” (the term used by NLNZ) of these international research collections has been averted, but NLNZ is trying to disperse our books in other ways. 12,680 books are being despatched to the National Libraries of Greece, Scotland and the Philippines, and to other libraries who have gladly requested the quality literature on offer. Books have been earmarked for organisations such as the NZ Department of Corrections (our prisoners will be better informed than our researchers). Thirty-two cartons are now at the Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies at Otago University. 57,000 were donated to Rotary Club, who sold an estimated 7,000 for $2 each; the unsold 50,000 went to a book dealer for an undisclosed sum and may be sold in New Zealand or overseas. The balkanisation of our “wellsprings of knowledge” has begun and must be stopped. There are 600,000 volumes left. Internet Archive stands accused of piracy in an international legal challenge, and a similar organisation, Google’s Hathi Trust, no longer publishes works susceptible to copyright claims (piracy). There are other causes for concern—private providers of virtual ‘libraries’ can disappear, go broke or merge with other companies. The world can change suddenly. These books are serious volumes of research. Book Guardians Aotearoa have shown how every argument for “secure destruction” or disposal of valued nationally-owned books is flawed (https://bookguardiansaotearoa.com. The New Zealand Society of Authors/ Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (https://authors.org.nz) and the Publishers Association of NZ/ Te Rau o Tākupu (https://publishers.org.nz) have shown how such a “digital” deal would deprive writers of royalties and impinge on copyright. Disposing of valued books is a potential abuse of Section 21 of the Human Rights Act 1993, Section 13 of the NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990, and Article 4 (regarding Toleration of other religions) of the Treaty of Waitangi 1840 (see http://nodisposals.neocities.org/html/editorial.html). Keeping our hard copy books is a matter of common sense, and of good legal sense. All librarians I know agree: disposals must cease, lost books must be reclaimed or replaced and acquisition of foreign published books (suspended now for some years) must recommence. New Zealand is a wealthy, developed, multi-cultural country with a diverse, educated population. We have companies like Phantom Billstickers who work hard to bring poetry and the Arts to the people. Our government should also have a commitment to conserve and promote knowledge for everybody, not to destroy or endanger it. It is not necessary to give away these books, or swap them for a few digital conversions. The books should be in their proper home in the National Library of New Zealand in Wellington, where readers can access and research them. Three million adult New Zealanders own them and have the legal right to research and access their wide range of knowledge. Digital conversions overseas will not guarantee their security or survival, and the physical books will be lost to us Kiwis. Once they leave the country we’ll never see them again. NLNZ should keep its own books, curate its own collections, and scan its own books to complement hard copies, while fully respecting international law. NLNZ will only change course if we all speak up. You can voice your opposition to these disposals by complaining to your local M.P. or writing to the Minister Jan.Tinetti@parliament.govt.nz. It is crucially important you tell them we should hold on to our books and update our library with new acquisitions. Book Guardians Aotearoa, NZSA, PANZ and these writers have begun the job, it is now up to us all to finish it. Good luck. W. Direen Editorial 1 October, 2021
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