Latest News Visionary Librarian Retires After 3 Decades After nearly 30 years of tending the Masterton District Library and Wairarapa Archive, Joy Tutty is retiring.  The District Librarian has been credited with many innovations in library services and is in fact the force behind Masterton District Library becoming one of the first community libraries in New Zealand to switch to fully-computerised cataloguing. Council CEO Wes ten Hove described Miss Tutty as ‘a passionate advocate for the Masterton Library’.  “Improving services at the library was one of her corner-stone commitments and in 30 years she did not deter from working tirelessly to make the library one of the best in the country,” Mr ten Hove said.  Miss Tutty joined the library in 1980, with her first priority being the construction of a new library building in northern Queen Street.   During planning she insisted adequate provision be made for computer cabling.  “This showed huge foresight, given the fact computers now manage library databases nationwide and back then none did,” Mr ten Hove said.  The new library opened in 1982 and has seen many improvements. Innovations included the introduction of the Eastern and Central Summer Reading programme for children, the long running ‘Glistening Waters Storytelling Festival’ and the ‘Yarns in Barns Festival’.   Miss Tutty also promoted the establishment of the Wairarapa Archive and instigated an oral history programme.  She was the prime mover in the introduction of the te reo Maori component of the Summer Reading Programme.    Active on the national library scene, Miss Tutty was a member of the steering group for the formation of the Association of Public Library Managers, and was part of the consultation group for the Aotearoa People’s Network that installed computers for free public use in libraries.    Miss Tutty was awarded a G T Alley Fellowship to study local history services in American libraries and was made an Associate of the Library & Information Association New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA) in 1986, and a Fellowship in 2001. Miss Tutty’s last day of work will be September 25, 2009.  In reflecting on her time at the library Miss Tutty identified her highlights:  “I’ve really enjoyed the challenges, changes and successes of the past 30 years in the library; one of the biggest changes I’ve witnessed is the explosion of the Internet and its power to connect families from across the world.  In the early stages it was very gratifying in being able to assist elderly people to master email thereby giving them the ability to keep in touch with children and grandchildren across the world.  “Being involved in the early discussion and planning to set up an Aoteoroa People’s Network was a very steep learning curve for me.  However, the fact we can harness that power to help library members, particularly those residing in our rural areas, to get the best service from their library has been very satisfying.  It’s also been good to see so many new faces taking advantage of the free Internet access we’ve been able to offer through the Aotearoa People’s Network.  “Throughout my time in Masterton I have also been fortunate in being able to work with a stimulating group of Library Managers and discuss library problems with my colleagues throughout the country via the medium of the Internet,” Miss Tutty said. 9 September 2009