It is with great pleasure that we announce our new LIANZA president-elect and council members. Nominations for our next president-elect and the two nationally elected council members were unopposed, and no election is required. 

The new LIANZA constitution came into effect on April 1. Our council composition changes from six regionally elected to four nationally elected council members and two appointed members. This year nominations for the first two elected council members and one appointed member were sought, in addition to the next LIANZA president-elect.


LIANZA President, Erica Rankin says she is delighted to have three new people joining the council on July 1.

“The energy and enthusiasm for contributing to LIANZA by becoming a member of the council is exciting and I am looking forward to the new ideas, networks and passion for our sector that Richy, Neda and Stephen will bring to our association.” 

 


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Three regional councillor roles for LIANZA Te Whakakitenga aa Kaimai, LIANZA Ikaroa and LIANZA Murihiku cease from June 30, 2022. We will farewell and thank Melanie Chivers and Amber Nicholson for their contribution to LIANZA at their last meeting in late June.

Current regional councillor roles for LIANZA  Hikuwai, LIANZA Te Upoko te Ika a Maui, and LIANZA  Aoraki continue until June 30, 2023. We are pleased to have Philip Miles, Stephnie Burton and Gail Cook continue as council members, during the transition to the new governance structure.

LIANZA PRESIDENT-ELECT

We are delighted to announce that Richard Misilei will become LIANZA President-elect from July 1 and will serve three consecutive years as LIANZA president-elect, president, and immediate past president.
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RICHY MISILEI

Richy Misilei has been LIANZA PIMN SIG co-convenor for several years and you may remember Richy in his role as the conference co-convenor at the LIANZA 2019 Conference in Manukau City.

Or perhaps you watched him deliver a convincing argument at the 2021 conference debate? Richy currently works as Connected Communities Lead and Coach (Ōtara-Papatoetoe), Auckland Council.

 



 
CANDIDATE STATEMENT

Talofa lava,
O lo'u igoa o Richard Misilei - My name is Richard Misilei. A summary of who I am: I love God because He loved me first (1 Jn. 4: 19). I am married to a beautiful woman by the name of Jolene Misilei and we have a wonderful daughter by the name of Grace. My parents are Misilei and Vaivasa Misilei, from the generation of Samoan's who came to NZ for better opportunities. I have two younger sisters, two nephews and a niece.

For work, my official title is the Connected Communities Lead and Coach. Essentially, I look after most of the Auckland Council sites in the Ōtara-Papatoetoe area, one of the local board areas in South Auckland. Of these sites, four of them are libraries. Before this role, I used to manage one of these four sites: Tupu Youth Library, which I absolutely adored. I never intended to work in libraries. 

As a student in high school, I used the library to meet with girls from another high school, however as a uni student, the library became my safe haven to build my intellect as I was a very average learner (probably because of what I was doing in high school!) 

Being here now, I'm so blessed by our industry and its commitment to our communities and society, and I intend to keep pushing that in this space.
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NEW APPOINTED MEMBER

LIANZA is delighted to announce that the new appointed member to 2022/2023 LIANZA Council is Troy Tuhou. 

Tēnā koutou katoa
Nō Ngāti Porou, nō Rongowhakaata tōku Papa
Nō Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti tōku kōka
Nō reira Nō Te Tairawhiti ahau





Greetings to you all my tribal affiliations on my fathers side are Ngāti Porou and Rongowhakaata, On my mother's side Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti therefore I am from the east coast of the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand.
My name is Troy Tuhou. I have worked in tertiary libraries for the last eighteen and a half years and am currently the Team Leader of the Library Community Engagement Team at AUT South Campus Library.​Some of my past experiences in leadership roles and governance include:

• Kaitiaki Pūtea Te Rōpū Whakahau (Treasurer)
• Te Rōpū Whakahau representative on LIANZA Council
• Co-sponsor of the Emerging Leaders Working group
• Māori representative on the AUT branch of TIASA (Tertiary Instutions Allied Staff Association)

I enjoyed my previous time on LIANZA Council immensely and look forward to working with the council and with the membership.

​​STEPHEN PENNRUSCOE

Stephen is the Libraries Director, Hamilton City Libraries. He has 24 years of experience within the GLAM sector as a leader and mentor, promoting focused customer experiences and best practice collection management. Stephen is driven by a desire to achieve the best for libraries. He prides himself on his strategic thinking and business-focused mindset. 

 
As Libraries Director/Te Manutaki Tuhirau at Hamilton City Libraries, he is responsible for the libraries’ strategic direction. He has been integral to adopting and activating their bicultural commitment, creating a hearts and minds campaign, developing a new model for staff induction, and “reframing our why”, achieved by first believing in and empowering the people around him.

Maa mua ka kite a muri Maa muri ka ora a mua

Those who lead give sight to those who follow
Those who follow give life to those who lead

 
No nominations have been received for the newly appointed council member position and we will work to find someone with the skills we need and who is available to contribute to LIANZA.

Readers across New Zealand have some new favourites from local authors to add to their digital reading list in the Libby app.

As we begin to climb our way out of a global pandemic, Words of Comfort by Rebekah Ballagh is here to help. A companion to those grieving, this book explores the complex emotions involved in a loss. Those looking to escape in the form of armchair travel will be enthralled by Dancing with the Machine by Jo Morgan. Chronicling the extraordinary escapades from a late life adventurer, this read will appeal to travelers, climbers and anyone who loves a good story. Another standout memoir from Allen & Unwin, The Bookseller at the End of the World by Ruth Shaw, is a book lover’s dream about two tiny bookshops in the remote village of Manapouri in Fiordland. Rounding out the reading list is a June release for readers to anticipate: A Gentle Radical, the biography of Jeanette Fitzsimons, the hugely influential leader of the Green Party.

These new titles are only available through OverDrive in the Metered Access Concurrent Use lending model. Known as OverDrive Max, this powerful lending model enables libraries to stock bundles of 75 loans for popular digital books with no expiration date. With each Max title, the cost to serve each reader is typically the lowest available cost for libraries - which makes these must-have adds to your digital collection. Shop these titles and more in OverDrive Marketplace.

MORE OPTIONS FOR YOUR USERS
Users can also explore a new category of content called Libby Extras. These unique digital experiences offer more opportunities to reach new users in your community with continuing education, language learning, crafting, musical instrument instruction and more. Discoverable within Libby, users can connect to this content by simply tapping ‘Extras’ on a library’s digital collection homepage to find what’s available.

Artists and music lovers in your community can watch self-paced music lessons with ArtistWorks, take their painting or pottery to the next level with Craftsy or stream a full-length concert on demand with Qello. Lifelong learners can stay busy with Universal Class, while others will discover how LawDepot simplifies legal forms in minutes. Want to see for yourself? Sign up for free demo access.

 A little more than 24 months ago, you could find Luke Miller working out of his local public library. He runs a business that helps libraries provide coding education through things like ‘code clubs’. As a remote company, Prenda (now called Fiero Code) gave him the freedom to work from anywhere and he loved being in the creative, bright and welcoming space his local library created. He talks about code clubs in this blog.

 
Around that time, I remember meeting a friend to watch him work on a 3D printing project using a library printer, the smell of melted plastic wafting through the room. A couple of weeks before that, I donned my coolest pair of trousers and smartest shirt to shoot a promo video using the maker space DSLR camera, microphones, lighting and green screen. And every Wednesday afternoon I’d watch dozens of kids wander into the room for their weekly code club meeting. 
 
Those were the days!
 
I don’t know if there’s a better picture of how libraries have been transforming over the past two decades than what I experienced in that maker space. Libraries broke out of their cocoons of book and movie borrowing into vibrant community spaces full of life-transforming educational opportunities and programs for community members of all ages. Makerspaces were popping up in underused corners of libraries, language learning apps were showing up on library websites, and it was a beautiful and majestic thing to behold. 
 
Then the pandemic happened. Library doors were shuttered, and library staff were temporarily sent home.  
 
I remember sitting at home in the 3m x 3m closet I had converted into an office and wondering what was going to happen with library-land. I received email after email from our customers saying their libraries were closing indefinitely.  
 
Then a surprising thing happened. I got a couple emails from customers who were asking if they could run code clubs over a Zoom call. Within a couple of weeks, we had put together a training on how to run code clubs via Zoom, and libraries all over the world started to transition their in-person code clubs to virtual code clubs.
 
A couple of weeks later we were able to make our software available as a full-blown self-guided digital resource where patrons could learn how to code at home, on their own. Libraries started to advertise our product to their communities, and we had a flood of new users signing up to learn how to code! 
 
Today, as libraries are in various stages of re-opening, I think it’s safe to say two things:
 
First, the world has changed and the pandemic accelerated libraries’ focus on digital access. Now libraries are no longer limited to in-person programming but can confidently provide virtual programs, just like we saw with virtual code clubs. 
 
Second, new kinds of digital resources are emerging that will help libraries serve their communities in amazing ways. These may be learning and creative tools like our learn-to-code software, or they may be entertainment types of services, but it’s clear that digital resources empower libraries to serve their communities regardless of what pressures are happening in the world. 
 
I, for one, am excited about the changes happening in libraries around the world.
 
Luke Miller - Head of Code Club, Fiero Code (formerly named Prenda).

Laura Caygill is the Community Experiences and Diversity Team Leader for Waimakariri Libraries. Formerly a community library manager for Auckland Libraries, Laura moved back to her hometown of Ōtautahi in 2019. She recently began learning Te Reo Māori and loves building high-achieving teams that bring about transformational change. This is her presentation from the recent LIANZA 2021 conference.
 

When Waimakariri Libraries backs a bird for Bird of the Year, you can bet we are on Team Ngutu Pare.
Ngutu pare, or wrybills, make their home along the banks of Waitaha’s braided rivers. They are small birds with distinctive curved bills that they use to dig under rocks for kai. River goers need to be careful where they place their feet lest they accidentally crush wee ngutu pare’s eggs, which are tricky to spot amongst the rocks. Without that awareness they could damage these special taonga.
Ngutu pare (or ngutu parore) is the subject of one of two picture books written and illustrated with funding from the New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP). The project aims to bring local stories to life in partnership with manawhenua.
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The two stories, one featuring ngutu pare and the other the kōwaro, or Canterbury mudfish, are written by Lynne Te Aika, chair of the Tuahiwi Education Committee, and illustrated by local artist Morgan Matthews Hale of Kaitiaki Studios. Te Reo Māori and English versions of each story are being produced. 

WORKING WITH SENSITIVITY AND RESPECT
Working with sensitivity and respect for Te Ao Māori and sensitivities pertaining to the Wai 262 claim have been front of mind throughout this mahi. The Te Reo Māori versions use the Kāi Tahu dialect, and both stories reflect information readily available in the public domain, rather than stories that would require higher iwi consultation and approval to share, such as those of local historical knowledge.

Once the draft version of the kōwaro stories have been finalised in both languages we will look to confirm appropriate creative commons licences for the works and discuss platforms for sharing the stories and artwork with the community.

We are excited by the idea of hosting the stories online as well as having physical copies available for loan and for sale at cost, making these stories available to schools, kura and other libraries. Other possibilities include featuring the imagery from the stories in library collateral (such as book bags and on library cards) and in-library art that connects our spaces to this local fauna.

FOCUSING ON MANAAKITANGA AND WHAKAWHANAUNGATANGA
Throughout the process a focus on manaakitanga and whakawhanaungatanga have been important. Following on from kōrero over the phone, our initial meeting to discuss the project in person was a relaxed gathering held at District Libraries Manager Paula Eskett’s home, with the sharing of coffee and kai while Lynne’s mokopuna played close by on the living room floor. At this hui we were able to establish shared whānau and mahi connections and set the tone of mutual care and respect for the project.
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The project is a small step on Waimakariri Libraries’ journey to make work in partnership with manawhenua to make local stories and Te Reo Māori more visible in our spaces, building a library service that celebrates Aotearoa’s biculturalism.

RACISM IN WAIMAKARIRI
Waimakariri is a semi-rural region in North Canterbury, with three library branches in Kaiapoi, Rangiora, and Oxford. It is a rapidly growing area, just 20 minutes north of Ōtautahi thanks to recent motorway improvements. It is home to Tuahiwi Marae, the home of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, and the site of the once prosperous Kaiapoi Pā, established by Tūrākautahi around 1700 and abandoned after it was sacked by Te Rauparaha in 1831.

Despite the significance of the area for Māori, the population of the Waimakariri District is overwhelmingly Pākeha (a 2016 article on stuff.co.nz reported it as the most pākeha region in Aotearoa) and recently it has sadly made national news for shameful incidents of racism.

In May 2021, two such stories made headlines within a week of each other. “Racist rant in Farmers store,” read a headline on stuff.co.nz on 20 May 2021, “woman arrested incident involving mosque shooting victim’s family”. One week earlier the owner of a Kaiapoi pub made headlines for what stuff.co.nz called a “racist online rant” in which he called Māori a “scourge”. He later said his comments were misconstrued and then apologised following backlash from business partners. 

The impact of these stories was felt acutely by the library team; the Farmers store is across the road from the Rangiora Library and the pub in the other incident is directly across the river from the Kaiapoi Library.

LIBRARIES MAHI TO COMBAT RACISM AND BUILD COMMUNITY IN WAIMAKARIRI
Making our libraries spaces where a sense of āhuratanga and safety are championed through greater representation of Te Reo Māori and local stories is a key part of our mahi to combat racism and contribute to a strong sense of community in the Waimakariri, as is a focus on youth engagement.

This is important across all our branches, but it is of particular significance for our library in Kaiapoi, where the percentage of the population who identify as Māori is higher than across the district as a whole. The age range of those in the district who identify as Māori is also notably younger compared to the population of the district.
We have recently appointed a full time Rangatahi Engagement Co-ordinator at Ruataniwha Kaiapoi Library, on a two-year fixed term contract. We hope that we will be able to show the benefits of the role for our hapori and gain permission for a permanent role.

Over the last two years we have promoted reading in Te Reo Māori with the Books Alive celebration of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Celebrations for Matariki and Te Wiki o te Reo Māori are a focus for my team this year, while planning for various traffic light settings of course.

All new members of our team attend a one-day workshop at Tuahiwi Marae to get to know the history of the area and the aspirations of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, and currently, two-thirds of our team have attended.

As awareness of where we place our feet along the riverbank protects the eggs of the nugutu pare, it is our hope that by taking small steps to increase awareness of Te Reo Māori and local stories as taonga to be respected and protected, we can see them, and all members of our hapori, truly flourish.  

Ka whangaia ka tupu, ka puāwai - That which is nurtured will grow and blossom.

Sheeanda McKeagg (Tūhoe, Ngati Porou, Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi, Te Aitanga a Mahaki) is the Research Services Manager and Kaihautū Māori, and Kat Cuttriss is Associate University Librarian (Client Services) at Massey University Library Te Putanga ki te Ao Mātauranga. They presented their mana-enhancing process at the LIANZA 2021 conference and share it with us here.

E te tī, e te tā
Nei rā te mihi aroha ki a koutou me ōu koutou whānau
Otirā tēnā koutou katoa

The concept of mana-enhancing is not new. But it is gaining wider recognition throughout Aotearoa as people increasingly realise the power and significance of its meaning. Those two words encapsulate a range of values, including respect, professionalism, collegiality, integrity, and manaakitanga.
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In a Massey context, our university’s strategic priority for 2021-2023 is to increase Māori and Pasifika student retention and success. Relevant objectives focus particularly on the first-year Māori and Pasifika student experience and providing positive academic and supporting experiences to improve overall student outcomes. When we considered what actions library staff could take towards ensuring such positive outcomes, we saw an immediate opportunity to apply mana-enhancing practices to all interactions with our clients across the university community.
With this opportunity in mind, at the beginning of 2021, we held a planning hui with our Manawatū Information & Research Services (I&RS) team. We talked through the university’s strategic priorities and then introduced the mana enhancing concept and asked staff to brainstorm what they thought it meant. Some of the responses were:
“Freedom for all to shine”
“appreciation and respect”
“that we act with integrity”
“respectful engagement”
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Together, we co-defined mana-enhancing as respectful interactions with all members of our university community, working in a collaborative, partnership way at every opportunity.  This was a natural extension of our long-standing commitment at Massey Library to the end-user experience (UX) and user-centric approaches to service development, design, and delivery.
The team then made a collective and individual commitment to mana enhancing practices in our library work and every staff member’s PDP (performance development plan) for 2021 included at least one example of mana enhancing behaviour or practice.
Such examples of mana enhancing behaviours included:

• KŌRERORERO: THE ART OF CONVERSATION

In a mana enhancing sense, kōrerorero is akin to the “empathy conversation” model, which can be effectively used in community engagement.  It’s a way of asking open-ended questions about the person, then listening actively and sensitively, to truly understand their feelings, motivations, pain-points and aspirations, and their lived experiences. The hallmarks of mana-enhancing kōrerorero are that it is ongoing and respectful.  It is not just a point in time interaction, where we get what we need, close off and move on. It is a commitment to an ongoing relationship.  It therefore represents a powerful way to co-design and develop library services, experiences and spaces, in true partnership and with our clients’ needs and aspirations at the heart of all we do.

• WHANAUNGATANGA: WORK IN PARTNERSHIP
  

This is one of Massey University Library’s values and expresses our belief that we work in partnership to achieve more than we could do on our own. It describes the power of a true collaborative partnership with our community. We don’t just do library things for our community; we do things with, alongside, and together.  This means we can leverage and work with “what’s strong” in our community, not identify and fix “what’s wrong”.
 
An example of our whanaungatanga approach is our ongoing relationship with the Māori Student Association on the Manawatū Campus. In 2021 we invited students to an on-site hui as part of an ongoing kōrero on our upcoming library transformation project. We looked at building plans together, shared questions, and provided the opportunity for impressions and feedback to be offered over time. A sense of tuakana-teina is achieved whereby everyone brings value to the relationship and the mahi, and every viewpoint is respected. 

• OUTREACH: CREATING ‘BUMP SPACES’

We achieve this practice by being out and about, standing up from our desks, and getting ourselves into library client spaces, and wider campus places. We make a commitment to visit and spend time in cafes, concourse areas, academic department common rooms, and look for opportunities to ‘bump’ into folks in the coffee queue.
We also explicitly recognise this activity as having value, even if it is mostly invisible, unwitnessed and doesn’t always translate into a transactional output or an evidenced outcome.  As we put it, “there’s nothing to see from it, but everything to gain.”

WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE DURING A PANDEMIC?
The in-person nature of our outreach activities during the first half of 2021 gave us pause for thought as we navigated (and continue to navigate) the pandemic.  Requirements to main physical distancing and don face masks put an obvious challenge in the way of such close, interpersonal interactions.  And how can you do this, when you have limited, or no, opportunities to ‘run into’ people, in real life?

We reflected on what we did to adapt, particularly during the lockdown of August 2021 onwards, and identified the following possibilities:

• Create and find ‘bump spaces’ by joining university- or community-wide forums, webinars and kōrero. For example, we had several VC strategic forums in which we worked together with various university staff to co-construct our next strategic plan. 
• “Lean into” the conversation and have a voice, a view, and an opinion.  If this feels a bit nerve-wracking, buddy up with a colleague and ‘amplify’ and mana-enhance each other, so if one of you makes a comment, the other backs it up.
• Savour every opportunity for synchronous engagement that you can.  Take kōrero into real-time at every opportunity (by phone, Zoom, Teams) and extend the audience to include others, when possible. This is how we see, hear, and appreciate our university-wide community, and it is also how we build our own mana, get seen, heard and appreciated, in return.

THE JOURNEY NOW
A mana-enhancing commitment was included in each Manawatū I&RS team member’s PDP for 2021.  As part of the end-of-year review we encouraged our team to reflect on their mana enhancing practices and progress through 2021. We then set new, or re-set existing, individual goals for 2022. A planning hui for the team at the start of 2022 drew from our collective reflections over the preceding year to co-create a ‘team contract’ of mana enhancing practices for us all to uphold.
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We will continue to share our experiences of our mana-enhancing approach to all facets of our library mahi, with colleagues throughout Massey University and the wider sector.  

The NZLPP Programme Board made some key decisions about unallocated programme funding at their 17 March meeting. These decisions were informed by the Sector Reference Group.
 
An amount of $2m is being allocated for transition payments for public libraries, allowing for up to $30,000 per local authority plus a consideration for hardship. The intention of these payments is to support libraries as they transition out of the programme. We’ll send further information around the transition payments and how to apply by the end of the month. 
 
Te Puna Services subscription fees will be waived for a further year (1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023) with the exception of the same state sector organisations previously excluded. The Te Puna Services team will be in touch with all libraries directly to confirm this.
 
Approximately $1m has been allocated for the continuation of the sustainability initiatives, including a Mātauranga Māori initiative, in the next financial year. While details are still to be confirmed, the high-level approach agreed to is to explore the establishment of a project team hosted by the National Library; and to fund a number of capability grants within the sector to support the implementation of this mahi.
 
There is still plenty of detail to be worked through and discussions with our sector partners will be ongoing throughout April. For further information on NZLPP, and to keep up to date on recent news, please visit our webpage — NZLPP Latest News

NZLPP INTERIM DELIVERY REPORT

the NZLPP Interim Delivery Report can be found on the new NZLPP Reports page. The purpose of this Interim Delivery Report is to summarise 18 months of the programme’s mahi and spending — from establishment to the end of December 2021.

Rachel Esson, National Librarian Te Pouhuaki, says,

“I’ve been reflecting on June 2020, when the COVID recovery fund money came through to NZLPP, thinking what an extraordinary and exciting moment that was. I’ve also been reflecting on the enormous effort, goodwill and collaboration that has gone in to getting us to this point. Right from the outset, we designed the programme with the sector. With people who have given so much of their time and really enabled the programme to be successful. Now we're at the point where that funding is coming to an end and looking at our options, considering how we can lock in the benefits and positive things that have come from the programme and how we can best position the sector for the future.”

A final Delivery Report and Programme Evaluation Report will be provided after the programme’s closure. We have contracted Martin Jenkins for the delivery of an impact evaluation to assess the direct impact of the programme and the extent to which the programme's objectives have been met. These reports will also be made available on our reports page, once complete. ​

LIANZA PR MEETUPS

​LIANZA Professional Registration Meetups were offered online in April, July and September 2021. The
recent meetup focused on reflective practice and a participant shares her experience.​

​During lockdown LIANZA PR Board members met and shared their recent professional learning and reflections.
Their journal activities and reflections are shared based on the reflection framework uncovered at the recent
meetup.

Do you want to play an important role in achieving LIANZA’s vision?

‘People and communities connected and empowered by information’
 
LIANZA is looking for new council members and our next president-elect.

Is this you or someone you know ?

He karanga ki ngā kaiarataki katoa. Kei te reri koe ki te whai i tētahi tūranga kaiarataki ki roto i te rāngai Wharepukapuka me te pārongo?

WHAT IS DIFFERENT IN THIS ELECTION?
Over the next two years, our association will transition to a new governance structure. This was approved by members in November 2021. Our council moves from six regionally elected to four nationally elected council members and two appointed members.

From June 30, three regional council member roles (LIANZA Te Whakakitenga aa Kaimai, LIANZA Ikaroa and LIANZA Murihiku) cease and the Te Rōpū Whakahau tumuaki and Te Rōpū Whakahau council member will no longer sit on LIANZA Council.

LIANZA is now calling for nominations for president-elect and the first two nationally elected council members and one appointed councillor. Nominations are being sought to increase the council’s diversity of skills, knowledge, perspectives, and networks, based on a recent annual council skills audit.
 
LIANZA President-elect
A strength of LIANZA is the ‘three P’s team’- president-past, president, and president-elect; and leading our association with this model will continue. A new president-elect is being sought to join Kim Taunga (who will become president) and Erica Rankin (who will become immediate past-president) for a three-year term to lead our governing council. The three presidents work closely together, and they have many leadership opportunities – representing LIANZA at hui, forums, and conferences; working alongside national and international stakeholders; leading the council; engaging with members and driving the strategic direction of the association. You can  find out who has previously lead LIANZA here.
 
Two elected council members
We welcome LIANZA personal members who have a passion for the library and information sector and experience or understanding of governance, to self-nominate or make a nomination for the two nationally elected roles. 
 
One appointed council member
LIANZA is seeking to appoint someone with skills in Tikanga and Mātauranga Māori or someone with experience from beyond the library and information sector. Nominees do not need to be personal members to be nominated and appointed to council.
 
ARE YOU THE PERSON WE NEED?
We need new energetic and engaged council members to complement the existing council.
 
We value a diverse range of experience on our council and seek experienced people to contribute to:

• Setting strategic direction and pursuing strategic opportunities to grow the association’s reach and impact.
• Evaluating financial viability and performance.
• Identifying and monitoring risks.
• Strengthening networks with stakeholders beyond the library and information sector.
• Sharing professional knowledge and experience from across the library and information sector, particularly from tertiary, special and health libraries.

We invite you to send in a self-nomination or to nominate someone who you think would contribute.
This is an exciting time to be involved in the strategic governance of your professional association as we look to the future of LIANZA. If you seek a new challenge and want to make a significant contribution to the library and information sector at the national level, then consider nomination to LIANZA Council. 

Allison Dobbie is the new chair of the Library and Information Advisory Commission (LIAC). She talks about the commission and current commissioners.

Back in July 2021 I chanced upon an advertisement seeking nominations for LIAC commissioners and decided to apply. I thought it would be an interesting way to stay in touch with key issues affecting the library and information sector in Aotearoa and to contribute to the discussion. I was surprised and delighted to be appointed a commissioner and then to be invited by the Minister Hon. Jan Tinetti, to become chair. In December I participated in my first LIAC meeting.

ABOUT THE COMMISSION
The Library and Information Advisory Commission Ngā Kaiwhakamārama i ngā Kohikohinga Kōrero (LIAC) was established as part of the National Library of New Zealand Act 2003. It is a statutory body whose role is to report to the Minister of Internal Affairs on: • library and information issues in New Zealand, including mātauranga Māori, and access to library and information services • the role of library and information services, including mātauranga Māori, in the cultural and economic life of New Zealand • any other matters requested by the Minister of Internal Affairs, issues and trends relating to libraries and information. The Commission meets quarterly and usually meets with the Minister at each of these meetings.

CURRENT COMMISSIONERS
Current commissioners great strength is that commissioners are drawn from a breadth of experience across the GLAM and information sector, not just libraries. Current commissioners are:
• Vanisa Dhiru - Community Manager Internet NZ
• Te Paea Paringatai - Canterbury University Library (currently taking a leave of absence)
• Mark Boddington - Legal Counsel, Scientific Software and Systems Ltd
• Paula Eskett - Manager Waimakariri Libraries
• Dr Spencer Lilley - Associate Professor Information Studies, Victoria University
• Myself, Allison Dobbie - formerly Libraries Manager at Auckland Council.

These brief job titles do no justice to the expertise which this group brings to their roles – the LIAC website will shortly be updated to include full bios. The National Librarian is also always an ex officio member of LIAC, and it is great to have Rachel Esson join us in this role. Appointments are for three years with the option to continue for another term.

THANK YOU TO FORMER COMMISSIONERS
We build on an amazing foundation of former commissioners whose contribution to mātauranga Māori, information policy matters and support of libraries generally has been significant across several different governments. For example, the previous three-year-term of LIAC chaired by David Reeves of Auckland Museum had an important role to play in supporting the New Zealand Libraries Partnership Project (NZLPP), and in advocating for a strengthening of National Libraries independence within the Department of Internal Affairs.

CURRENT FOCUS OF  LIAC
There is no shortage of issues for LIAC to turn its attention to. COVID-19 responses have drawn attention to the lack of digital equity and digital NGĀ  21 literacy in Aotearoa New Zealand and information literacy challenges regarding fact or fiction and loss of trust in ‘official’ information. Another big issue is the impact of a rapidly changing digital world on the relative rights of creators, publishers, repositories, and consumers and how each can adjust and adapt. Related topics here include copyright, the future role of libraries, ownership vs licensing of collections, controlled digital lending and open access.

The commission will continue to advocate for Ngā Upoko Tukutuku Māori Subject Headings to be strengthened and applied across the GLAM sector. We will maintain interest in the NZLPP and other major National Library initiatives. We aim to build our awareness of developments in other library sectors too, such as school libraries and tertiary libraries. There is much to do, it will be extremely interesting. Don’t hesitate to get in touch, we rely on networks and wider sector communities to help keep us informed.

​CURRENT COMMISSIONERS

In June last year $1.5 million was made available for an exciting LIANZA and SLANZA partnership to upskill the library and information sector workforce by attracting people to achieve tertiary library and information qualifications. The fund will be used to aid a qualification uplift across the entire library and information sector and introduce new people into the sector.

This fund was made available through the Department of Internal Affairs New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP). It aims to make sure that the workforce is qualified, future-ready and positioned to demonstrate the value and impact of library and information services in Aotearoa New Zealand.

FIRST ROUND OPENS IN MARCH
The first grant round opens from March 1 to March 31. This grant round is intended for students beginning study from trimester two this year. Further grant rounds will be held each October starting this year.

WHO IS THE FUNDING FOR?
This funding is open to all those working in the library and information sector and those who may be new to the sector. Applications will be accepted from people looking to gain tertiary qualifications in indigenous knowledge management, library and information studies. This includes qualifications relevant to public, school, tertiary, national and special libraries, and whānau, iwi and marae collections of taonga tuku iho. 

Grant application and criteria will be provided in late February through sector-wide channels. ​