History of the first two University of Auckland Librarians, Alice E Minchin, 1918-1945 and Fredrick Arthur Sandall 1946-1969

Abstract

This study concentrates on two of the Auckland University College Librarians Alice Minchin (1918-45) who was the first qualified women Librarian in New Zealand and her successor Arthur Sandall (1946-69). The focus of the study was to examine their contributions, and the changes and improvements they introduced. To establish whether they treated, Alice Minchin differently from her male counterparts. In addition, to ascertain if Alice Minchin was handicapped in what she was able to accomplish because she was a woman or because of the financial position of the college. Alice Minchin and Arthur Sandall made many contributions to the library; they tried to introduce various improvements and changes in the way they ran the library. The College Council hampered many of Alice Minchin's efforts. However, Arthur Sandall had more luck with the college council; he was able to introduce many of the improvements and changes that Alice Minchin had advocated over the years. While the College suffered from some financial difficulties that was not the only reason that Alice Minchin was disadvantaged in comparison with the other three University College Librarians and Arthur Sandall. The all male College Council did not believe that a woman could do the job, which was perceived as a job that only men could do successfully during this period and they never took her informed suggestions seriously. She was a woman ahead of her time.