ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There are numerous people who must be thanked for their help in the completion of my thesis. The first is Jim Traue, from Victoria University, whose enthusiasm about the history of New Zealand libraries encouraged me to research Auckland’s early libraries. I would like to thank my supervisor, Raewyn Dalziel, whose support and guidance has helped to create something of academic credibility from a wild collection of ideas.

The support of the staff at the Special Collections Department, at Auckland Public Library, was paramount in locating some of the primary documents which became the basis for my thesis. In particular, I would like to thank Donald Kerr for his assistance and his enthusiasm about my topic. To the women, the backbone of many historic associations, who answered my letters about information on libraries in their area, many thanks. I am grateful to the volunteers at the Warkworth District Museum who ensured that documents from many of the local libraries were preserved.

To my fellow students Lisa, Pip, Grant, Stephanie, Alison, Clem, Hazel, Nina, Stacey, Aslan and Cybele who shared the dilemmas of creating a thesis, thank you. Many thanks to my family, Greg, Ella and Tomas, who boosted me up when I became frustrated and put up with an often obsessed and distracted figure poised over the computer.