SPECIAL LIBRARIES 

The increasing ease of access to information through the web, and other digital channels, is impacting special libraries more than any other sector with the “just google it” philosophy putting special libraries under threat. Despite this, special librarians are more important than ever with their expertise allowing them to filter the vast amount of information they offer, providing significant time savings to businesses looking for critical information quickly. A recent Australian study showed that special libraries return $5.43 for every dollar invested. Despite the ease of access to digital information the cost of research publications is increasing and putting pressure on special library budgets as they struggle to maintain access for their communities to key publications. 

SLIS (SPECIAL LIBRARIES INTEREST GROUP)

SLIS aims to provide professional development and networking opportunities for librarians and information professionals at regular intervals throughout the year. In March 2016 Linda Stopforth spoke on building resilience, we had a session with Te Puna staff on the upcoming Te Puna changes in April, and in June the Parliamentary Library hosted a session where staff talked about how the Parliamentary Library differed from other special libraries.

Later in the year LIANZA Executive Director Joanna Matthew spoke to us about change management, and to finish the year out we had a joint session with NZLLA where Katherine Howard spoke about her research on passion trumping pay.

​In addition,  a Christmas function was hosted by SLIS committee members at The Thistle Inn in Wellington. SLIS was also financially positioned to award three professional development scholarships to SLIS members in 2016.

Last updated September 2017. 

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