Tuvalu National Library and Archives

Role and facilities

The TNLA holds "vital documentation on the cultural, social and political heritage of Tuvalu", including surviving records from the colonial administration, as well as Tuvalu government archives.

The library's archives have been described as "comparatively well housed" but "endangered [...] through frequent and heavy use and [...] through risk of being washed away in a cyclone-prone area. Environmental and handling damage is occurring to key customary records". This has resulted in the Tuvalu National Archives preservation pilot project (EAP005) and Tuvalu National Archives major project of 2005, projects of the British Library and the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau of the ANU Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University to microfilm and digitally copy the archives.

National Librarian and Archivist

Tuvalu's first Librarian and Archivist was Anita Wilson. She was appointed to establish the archive in 1977, when the government received its share of the former Western Pacific Archives, together with copies of all the publications from the Tuvalu Church. At the same time she was tasked with establishing Tuvalu's first public library.

Kana Teafiula is the Acting Librarian and Archivist.

References

References

1. [http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/endangeredarchives/2009/03/saving-the-endangered-records-of-tuvalu.html "Tuvalu National Archives major project"], [[British Library]]
2. [http://www.ica.org/?lid=191&user=3203 International Council on Archives]
3. [http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/endangeredarchives/2009/03/saving-the-endangered-records-of-tuvalu.html "Tuvalu National Archives major project"], British Library
4. [http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/pambu/pambu/Pambu20%2005Dec.pdf "Report on PMB fieldwork in Tuvalu and Niue, Sep-Oct 2005"], ''Pacific Manuscripts Bureau Newsletter'', series 5, n°20, December 2005
5. (April 1979). "The Tuvalu Archives / Library". South Pacific Commission.
6. (April 1979). "The Tuvalu Archives / Library". South Pacific Commission.