Helen Parsons reports - "The shelves are very empty. And the walls are being plastered and
painted as we sell off our beautiful architect designed bookshelves. Roger and I and a couple of staff
are still working because we still have some sale price library orders to
complete.
The library at the National Gallery in Canberra
"The story behind our supply of New Zealand
art books to the Library at the National Gallery of Australia
in Canberra is that many, many years ago I
lugged two very heavy suitcases of New Zealand Art publications to an
NZ/Australia Art Librarians conference in Perth
It was early days of computers and I remember that the the librarians
asked if I could supply my lists so they read alphabetically. I had no idea of
how to make the computer do that.
I had gone to the conference at the behest of Devon Sinclair; she was
Librarian at the Fine Arts Library at Ilam, University of Canterbury
One of those Australian librarians remembered me when she started a new
job at Canberra and we began to supply them with
all New Zealand
The Library at the National Gallery of Australia
in Canberra has a superb research collection of New Zealand
The loss of this very fine bookshop is a blow to the arts and literary community but how nice to think that so much of the remaining stock has finished up in libraries where it is available to all.
Farewell Roger and Helen. Good luck for your retirement and all your tramping plans Roger, and all the best Helen for your ongoing library supply business.
2 comments:
Auckland won't be the same without Parson's Bookshop. They not only filled a vital role in compiling the best range of NZ art books for their customers but they also supported businesses such as ours that supply products to the NZ fine art market (in our case we publish and distribute art prints by NZ artists). When they ran the shop at Auckland Art Gallery Helen had a standing order for pretty much all new prints and even when Parsons didn't have the shop in the gallery they still were about the only place to buy prints in the whole inner city. We'll miss their enthusiasm for NZ art and encouragement.
Farewell to one of my favourite Australasian booksellers.
During my 16 years as Baker & Taylor's International Sales Manager, I always treasured my Parsons visits and never failed to learn something from my good friend (Roger).
My best wishes to Roger and Helen for a long and (energetic!) retirement !
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