A Word in Your Ear

ED:  How long have you been a member of the DPLA, or Friends of the Library as some people know it?

MERLE:  I joined the committee 14 years ago, after a friend encouraged me to go along to the AGM. Two years later I was elected President, and have held the chair ever since! I had been a librarian myself, so was a passionate supporter of the Library, and being a member of the DPLA meant I could make a material difference to Dunedin’s Libraries.

ED:  You must have seen many changes during your time with the Association.

MERLE:  In some ways yes; in other ways not enough. The saddest thing is not seeing so many members as there used to be, as many of the original members are no longer with us, and others are no longer well enough to come. In common with a lot of other organisations, we’ve noted that people feel they are too busy to get involved. We’ve seen the community libraries develop into delightful places to visit with the support of their communities, but the fight for a South Dunedin Library still goes on. I’ve been fighting for it for 12 years now! When I think of how long we’ve waited for the Library, I’m reminded of the White Queen’s promise from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass: “The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday – but never jam to-day”. People often say how much they love the Library, so I hope they will take up the challenge where I’m leaving off. It’s so important that all the libraries are served, and that the Association continues to give them a voice in the City.

ED:  So you’re retiring from the Association?

MERLE:  Yes, I am. It’s time for my husband and I to take some time for ourselves. These have been good years with the DPLA, but it’s time to say goodbye… time to let someone else take the reins. I shall be very, very sad to no longer be part of it. I’ll still be very much a part of the Library though – books have always been my friends, and I would be lost without them.

ED:  What are you most proud of in terms of what the DPLA have achieved during your time with them?

MERLE:  That we’ve been able to make sure that all the Dunedin Public Libraries have things that they need, that the Council doesn’t provide for them, such as the book trolleys in the basement for people to use, the wonderful painting we donated to celebrate the Centennial, and re-covering the chairs at City Library. Among the many things we’ve purchased for the Libraries  are iPads for Blueskin Bay and some wonderful children’s toys for Mosgiel, including a very popular pint-sized kitchen centre that the children love to play with. I’m also really pleased that we’ve been able to find some truly interesting speakers for our lunches!

ED:  And what are your fondest memories?

MERLE:  One of the nicest things was being awarded the Dunedin Public Libraries Citation in 2005. It is a wonderful feeling to have my name on that plaque at the Library. I had researched the history of the DPLA extensively, culminating in my book, “Turn Back the Pages”.

ED:  What are your hopes for the future of the Association?

MERLE:  That attention will be drawn to the value our libraries contribute to this city. I find one of the nicest things is to see older people in the libraries, reading, resting and having the chance to talk to people, reading newspapers they might not be able to afford to buy for themselves. I love to see children in the holidays leaving with armfuls of books.

 
Merle’s ‘absolute favourite’ book would be “something by Karen Armstrong or Susan Hill”. We wish her many, many happy hours of reading.

HOW TO JOIN

New members of the Dunedin Public Libraries Association are most welcome!

Membership forms can be found at all branches of the Dunedin Public Libraries network or downloaded here.

Annual membership fees are:
$10 per individual
$15 per family