The world of research is rapidly transforming and the Wairarapa Archive is changing pace alongside it with a template image repository called Picture Wairarapa now online. Wairarapa archivist Gareth Winter said the idea has already been used elsewhere around the world but took a wet weekend of techno tinkering to getup and running after he found the archive's computer system had the capability to handle the new pictorial resource. "The whole concept of research has changed with the internet little treasures you would never have been able to find in a small town archive you can find now," Mr Winter said. "We've transformed nearly 2000 images into digital format and they're available to be searched. The first priority has been setting up a system of these 2000 photos that can be used as a working template for further images," he said. Although Picture Wairarapa hasn't yet been formally publicised and is not recording hit counts, Mr Winter said internet users have still managed to find the site. "Our entire focus is on getting these things used, the records are there to be used not just to be stored." The next step is to submit the images to National Library of New Zealand website Matapihi, meaning literally 'window'. Mataphi collates records online from several organisations around the country and Mr Winter said the archive is currently in the process of uploading photos to the national repository. Unlike other big city archives, Picture Wairarapa users will be able to get high-resolution copies of displayed images for a nominal, cost-recovering fee of between $2 and $5, Mr Winter said. n Visit Picture Wairarapa @ http://mail.library.mstn.govt.nz:81/picture_wairarapa/index.html
