Chris Szekely, who has been Chief Librarian at the Alexander Turnbull Library since 2007, will be leaving his job at the start of March, after almost 17 years. Tributes from the Friends acknowledge that his long tenure has included some very difficult times and will be remembered for many innovations and achievements. Chris is only the seventh chief librarian, and his two predecessors (Jim Traue and Margaret Calder) also each served for 17 years.
His plan is to “settle in the Far North closer to family, smell some home-tended roses, grow bumper potatoes and catch a fish every Friday”. It is expected that the position will be advertised early in the new year.