When is an exhibition not an exhibition?
Librarian Amy Phillips responds to a research request received by Te Papa’s library, Te Aka Matua, which leads to solving a mystery and publishing information to improve a Wikipedia page.Read more
2023-08-10
The only island holiday we’re getting this year – spending time in the rare books collection
Amanda Sykes and Alice Hinton, Master of Museum and Heritage Practice program student at Wellington’s Victoria University, spent three weeks working on a placement at Te Papa’s Research library. Here they describe their work and adventures while here.Read more
2020-09-18
Fabulous beasts and where they lurk in our library
A steampunk Pokémon sea dragon, mutant whales, and a sabre-toothed devil bunny of the Aztecs. Librarian Martin Lewis (aka @RareBookGuy) presents his favourite curious creatures while researching this month.Read more
2018-10-29
Illustrations of the Grand Canyon – our retiring librarian’s favourite rare book
Here, Christine chooses her favourite rare book – and it’s possibly an unexpected one: Atlas to Accompany the Tertiary history of the Grand Cañon district.Read more
2018-04-26
Drinking the world’s only deep-sea coffee
Librarian Martin Lewis describes one of his more bizarre coffee breaks at work – drinking Caffe L’affare Primo ground coffee that travelled where no person has been before, 10,000 metres below the sea.Read more
2018-03-06
‘Please do not bite the books’ and other comical library rules
Would you walk into a library with a dirty face? Take a bite out of one of the books? Or LIE to the librarian? Librarian Martin Lewis (@rarebookguy) reveals comical library rules from history and shares his five commandments to ensure happy books and librarians. No dirty faces and no lies inRead more
2017-10-11
Metamorphosis and pineapples: The illustrations of Maria Sibylla Merian
Who was Maria Sibylla Merian? Librarian Christine Kiddey uncovers the fascinating story of the woman behind the remarkable The Surinam Album, full of lavish illustrations of flora and fauna from the former Dutch colony of Suriname in South America.Read more
2017-08-29
The heaviest, smallest, oldest, and smelliest books in our library
Our Research Librarian Martin Lewis, aka @RareBookGuy, takes a look at some of the more unusual questions he has received on tours of the Te Papa library collection.Read more
2017-06-29
Rare books and the marvellous art of marbling
Research Librarian, Martin Lewis, explains why he’s been losing his marbles over marbling…Read more
2017-04-27
Elephants on your dinner table – looking at an old trade catalogue
Librarian Christine Kiddey browses for jelly moulds and other assorted household items in a trade catalogue from 1850.Read more
2017-03-21
Old jersey, new knickers
Librarian Christine Kiddey discusses The housewife’s guide to making and mending published in WWII and the amusing annotations left my its owner. Read more
2016-06-13