Hymnologist receives citation from library

Emeritus Prof Colin Gibson's donation of thousands of hymn books and reference works over almost 30 years to the Dunedin Public Libraries was marked yesterday when he was awarded the 2010 Library Citation.

A surprised Prof Gibson received the citation before more than 100 people attending the annual morning tea to thank all those involved with the Dunedin public libraries for their support.

The Colin Gibson hymnology collection is the only one of its type in New Zealand and the largest gathering of hymnology resources held by any institution in the country.

Prof Gibson said when he began writing hymns he soon discovered there was no archive of New Zealand hymn books and hymn writing although overseas such collections were considered quite important by libraries.

Prof Gibson said he realised the community had a history of singing hymns and using hymn books which was likely to end, as books were often lost or "used to death".

He started "haunting" the Regent Theatre book sale and other places where "old treasures" could be found.

He accumulated a considerable amount of material and approached then city librarian Michael Wooliscroft in 1981 with between 300 and 400 books, suggesting a collection be established.

One of Prof Gibson's concerns was that standard histories of New Zealand music had paid little attention to hymns - "it's been almost totally ignored".

Over the years, Prof Gibson, who has travelled widely, has added to the collection, with works from a variety of other countries.

The collection, which can be accessed through the McNab Room at the Dunedin library, now contains more than 2200 items.

Prof Gibson, who has been compiling a history of New Zealand hymns and composers, said it was important to recognise that Maori had their own spiritual hymns or waiata before Europeans arrived.

Among the earliest published hymns in New Zealand were six hymns written by Roman Catholic Bishop Pomallier in Maori and published in Paris in 1859.

Much earlier than that, Maori would also have heard European hymns sung as explorers Abel Tasman and Captain James Cook both held regular shipboard services.

New Zealanders were "quite well known" in the world as hymn writers and for some reason had written more hymns about social issues than any other country, he said.

Prof Gibson said he did not think this meant New Zealand necessarily had more problems than other places, but reflected the interest in social issues within New Zealand churches.

Rare books librarian Anthony Tedeschi said the collection was "amazing" and it was appropriate this part of New Zealand's religious heritage should be retained in Dunedin with its history of Scottish Presbyterianism.

• Those supporting library services in Mosgiel, Outram and Middlemarch were also acknowledged yesterday at another ceremony held at the Mosgiel library.

- elspeth.mclean@odt.co.nz