1860-1870

The Library now possessed books and a librarian and the next 10 years were to be amongst the most adventurous of the Library's story. However, they began quietly when in 1861 the Committee recommended the appointment of a permanent messenger for the Library instead of a sessional one.

Next year the session was held in Wellington in the Provincial Council Chambers. A case of books was sent for use of members. Unfortunately it was lost when the White Swan carrying the Governor and Auckland members was wrecked near Castlepoint. The published list gives 50 books, mainly reference works on constitutional and economic matters, but the greater loss was that of the House, which was deprived of not only its documentary records but also most of the early printed papers. The Committee, nothing daunted, recommended that the books be replaced and used the mishap to have the vote raised to £500 for the year.

The sessions of 1863 and 1864 were both held in Auckland. In the latter year the Librarian was instructed to prepare cases so that the books could be moved to Wellington along with the other Government records.

Parliament took over the old Provincial Council Chambers in Wellington but they were enlarged to meet its requirements. The Library had a new home built specially for it costing £1,800 which was, with extensions, to provide an uneasy resting place for the next 35 years. In one paper the new library was described as "a very lofty handsome building with large painted windows". In another, "The Library is a fine room, handsomely decorated and the walls are fitted with bookshelves." It was of wood.

Details about the administration of the Library during the early years are few, but it appears that the Committee was undoubtedly the mainspring of the organisation. It contained men such as Carleton, Fitzherbert, Travers, and Domett, to mention only the best known, who were interested not only in the Library for its own sake but also in the part it could play in parliamentary affairs and in providing pleasure to members.

The Committee was responsible for book selection, carried out mainly during the session. While control over the Library in the recess lay with representatives of the House and Council, from the first H. F. Carleton, Chairman of Committees of the House, and a classical scholar, was responsible for seeing the books were obtained and that the funds were expended.

Until 1861 the only assistance in the Library was provided by a sessional messenger, but a full-time sub-librarian was provided from 1862. When Parliament moved to Wellington different arrangements were necessary and in 1866 the Committee suggested that a permanent librarian should be appointed. It was thought necessary to have somebody for the custody of a collection increasing in value from year to year. The House disagreed with this view, but perhaps with the hope of making the way clear for such appointment Major Campbell had given up his responsibility for the Library.

This left a gap which appears to have been filled by the Hon. Alfred Domett. As in addition to being a Legislative Councillor, he was Secretary for Crown Lands, Land Claims Commissioner, and Registrar-General he cannot have been able to spend much time with the Library. For all that, his influence was considerable and Gisborne, in his book New Zealand Rulers and Statesmen, says "He was for many years the mainstay of the General Assembly Library. He was, it may be said, the father of that institution; and it is mainly owing to his love of literature, and to his great ability in the organisation and classification of a library that the success of the institution with comparatively small means was so marked at the date of his departure from the Colony in 1871."

Just how long he was Librarian is not clear, but probably with the library attendant and additional assistance during the session there was sufficient staff to carry out all the work. It was not until 1875 that Ewen McColl, the attendant, became Sub-Librarian, though it is possible he may have been in fact Librarian as early as 1871.