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From: "Viv Kymdell" <>
Subject: Museums and libraries - Linda Ireland
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2006 12:24:02 +0200
References: <9880362F0C879048BBBD09B25DAD4ABD141969@nmsafs.nmsa.local>


Hi Linda,

Thank you for your informative input.

I have been reading on various group sites, for some time now, that museums
and libraries are "trashing" vast quantities of africana books and
memorabilia. The latest I heard was the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein
library. Can you add some light to this situation and also advise me whom I
should contact to be able to acquire some of the books that are being
destroyed? It is a most worrying and serious topic. Perhaps, if it is
viable for you, you could furnish us with a list of the heads of departments
and telephone numbers for the main centres of SA?

Take care,

Viv Kymdell

----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda Ireland" <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 7:30 AM
Subject: RE: [ZA-EC] TARR family Christening robe


Dear Tombi,

As a Collections Manager /Conservator with the Historical and
Anthropology Collections under my care at the Natal Museum, I can
sympathise with your frustrations. However, let me say in the curator's
defence, whilst many items are now relegated to storerooms, back rooms
of the library and indeed in additional storage places away from the
museums, no items should be lost or stolen. Cross referencing and paper
work unfortunately is not always perfect, but with computerisation, the
databases are becoming more research friendly.

As a member of the public you have every right to ask to see items you
know are in the museum, if you have donation certificates or other paper
work to back you up even better.

To those of you who are planning visits to archives and museums, it may
be well to write to the relevant librarian or curator ahead of time with
your request. If you are unable to do this, I'm sure they will help as
much as possible and then follow up with your request.

Linda Ireland


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