Louise Harper, Senior Collection Development Librarian at Auckland libraries, shares her experiences contributing to the creation of six bilingual VOX Books in te reo Māori and English. LIANZA and Te Rōpū Whakahau awarded the Joint Letter of Recognition for Bicultural Development to Auckland Libraries and Te Waka Kerewai  for this project.

Auckland Libraries launched the new bilingual te reo Māori VOX Books in a small staff gathering at Central City Library in April. This project had been a long time in the making. Led by Teri Ta’ala, who has since left Auckland Council, and Louise Harper (Library and Learning Services) with essential mahi by Raniera Kingi, Maureen Ned and others at Te Waka Kerewai, the Māori Outcomes unit at Auckland Council.

Content creation in its many forms has become an important part of our work at Auckland Council Libraries. Our publishing programme aims to fill gaps in our library collections and create content for and with our local communities, focusing on Māori, Pasifika, literacy and our collections. A specialist publishing team works with internal partners, local community and publishing partners to create and publish content.

Back in 2021, we had a large and growing children’s VOX Books collection – and we still do! –including some bilingual Chinese and English VOX books. We thought it would be wonderful if we could offer VOX Books in te reo Māori. And there was the possibility of some DIA funding under the New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme.

If you’re not familiar, VOX books are picture books with an attached audio reader so children can listen and read along. No batteries required, and no screens! VOX Books are narrated as the words appear on the page. And VOX Books are only available at libraries!

We emailed Library Ideas and asked if they wanted to collaborate with us on some VOX Books in te reo Māori. And they said yes immediately! We arranged a video meeting with Kyle Wiseman, our main contact at Library Ideas, and the CEO of Library Ideas, Brian Downing. This was a new venture for us all, and I recall the way Brian pronounced ‘Māori’ on our first video call. Let’s just say we all had a lot to learn!

Library Ideas would cover the cost of producing the books, with the understanding that Auckland Libraries would buy a certain number of copies.

They sent us a list of the titles that they held the publishing rights for. These were books that they could translate, record, and redesign with two languages on each page. We had several different title options, and there was some back and forth about which books to choose. We really wanted quality stories that kids and their whānau would enjoy. There are many wonderful children’s books being published now in Aotearoa and we wanted ours to look at home next to the best.

We chose stories that didn’t use rhyme as we thought this would be more straightforward to translate. We wanted themes that were in harmony with Te Ao Māori, and stories that reflected the interests of tamariki.

The project group included Māori staff and te reo speakers who helped select six titles and were on board to review the translations and narration. It was important to us that Auckland Libraries had oversight regarding the language – we had to be sure that the reo was right.

Library Ideas found a translator for our books: Kanapu Rangitauira, who has worked with Huia Publishers. Raniera reviewed the translation and provide feedback. The first translation was more adult- level and Raniera and the team made sure it was suitable for the intended young audience. Raniera not only provided extensive feedback, but he also provided some original translation for the instructions page, he translated a page of missing text, and he generally kept track of each word and each sentence, in both languages, on the page of every book. Raniera’s deep knowledge, and the patience and aroha that he brought to this project was vital.

And there were challenges. The project took three years to complete, partly due to te reo speakers, translators, and bilingual voice actors being in such huge demand.

A big challenge in working with an American company was that they really didn’t know much about the Māori language or culture. They didn’t ‘get’ that te reo Māori is a taonga. We found this out when they sent us the first recordings of the books by an actor who was neither Māori nor a reo speaker! Perhaps the actor misrepresented herself, or maybe Library Ideas hadn’t done enough research, but we provided feedback and Library Ideas corrected the mistake by finding two wonderful reo speakers to read the stories: award-winning actor Miriama McDowell and well-known local actor and TV presenter Kimo Houltham.

Library Ideas is a business that makes products for libraries, but they took a chance on us with this project. They did not expect to make a profit on these books, but they wanted to grow their collection for the New Zealand and Australian library markets. This project was also an opportunity for Library Ideas to test the waters for publishing VOX Books in other indigenous languages.

We were stoked to bring these unique children’s books to Tāmaki Makaurau, and other libraries around Aotearoa have bought them too from Library Ideas for their collections. We are in discussions about creating more books with Library Ideas so watch this space!

The books have been in the collection for six months now and they’ve had turnover of 4.15 so far (600 items and 2492 checkouts at 30/10/2024). They have been moving around the region, getting checked out by kids from Wellsford to Waiuku. Raniera was interviewed for a new  s story on Te Ao Māori News in May. The books were featured on the NZ Herald during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori featured the books in their June newsletter.

There is a real demand from people to hear, see, and read te reo in Tāmaki Makaurau. We were so fortunate to have all these talented, skilled, knowledgeable people working with us. And we now have the finished product of their collective mahi. Ka rawe!

The six titles are:

Four fiction picture books:

• Maybe by Kobi Yamada, illus. Gabriella Barouch – a story about children’s possibilities and potential
• What do you do with a problem? by Kobi Yamada, illus. Mae Besom – a story for anyone who has ever had a problem that they wished would go away!
• Seree’s story by Irma Gold & Wayne Harris – about Seree, an elephant who longs for her mum and her whānau. Bring the tissues when you read that one! It’s a heart wrencher.
• Show us where you live, humpback by Beryl Young, illus. Sakika Kikuchi – a story about a baby whale and a human baby, and the connection with the environment and living things.

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And two nonfiction picture books:

• Octopuses by Ann Herriges
• Tarantulas by Kari Schuetz

SANA SALEEM PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

Sana Saleem receives the LIANZA Award of Professional Excellence. The award is presented in recognition and celebration of Sana’s long-standing commitment to Pacific communities and students at Unitec. 

Sana exemplifies outstanding leadership in her representative role with the LIANZA Pasifika Information Management Network (PIMN) and has worked with the PIMN leadership to review strategic goals and vision, as part of her wider engagement with Pacific communities. 

Sana has also made an inspiring commitment to her own outreach and engagement activities, making herself available to support all Pacific learners at Unitec, at times places and ways that best complement learner needs. Her ability to forge and nurture ongoing relationships is commendable and deeply appreciated by the students and staff with whom she partners and connects.

Sana’s efforts to raise the profile of librarianship and library services for Pacific peoples are also noteworthy.  She is featured on the Careers NZ website, on a career pathway interview with LIANZA, and in a promotional video to raise awareness about the LIANZA SLANZA Tertiary Grants initiative for library and information study.
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Sana is always ready to step up to any challenge, and share back for the benefit of all, when opportunities come her way.  Her dedication, service and commitment are significant, valued and appreciated.

HANA WHAANGA IS AWARDED A LIANZA ASSOCIATESHIP

Hana’s career to date has encompassed special, university and public libraries. She has been and
is an ongoing contributing member of LIANZA.

Hana has researched, partnered with others, published and presented papers to the library community. She has been the editor of Library Life magazine developing it into vibrant monthly pānui, publishing content that was appealing and useful to the whole library sector.

She holds and supports professional registration demonstrating commitment to currency of relevant bodies of knowledge related to her career to date.

Hana successfully undertook the Kōtuku Emerging Leader’s programme. ‘Get things done’ and ‘see it through’ are identified leadership skills that Hana demonstrates.

In her current role, as Learning and Discovery Librarian at Hastings District Libraries, she undertakes collection management, and plans, develops and delivers programming and events for under 5-year-olds and their whānau.

A notable success has been establishing the international StoryWalk© programme in Hastings and sharing the concept with colleagues in Aotearoa. Story books are installed outdoors in parks and along walkways engaging whānau in movement and literacy development and involves partnering with publishers and other local government teams. Hana undertakes the design, planning and delivery of these activities which have become a regularly funded activity with ongoing positive literacy outcomes.
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Hana has recently been elected to LIANZA’s national council, demonstrating her future commitment to make significant contributions to the organisation and her regional community.

JOINT LETTER OF RECOGNITION FOR BICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT TO AUCKLAND LIBRARIES AND TE WAKA KEREWAI

LIANZA and Te Rōpū Whakahau are pleased to present the Joint Letter of Recognition for Bicultural Development to Auckland Libraries and Te Waka Kerewai. The award is presented for the development and introduction of bilingual VOX books in Te Reo Māori and English.

The Credentials Committee was impressed by this example of libraries thinking internationally to meet the needs of the community, and the level of staff input and wider team involvement.

There are significant complexities working with an international publisher and managing ongoing engagement. This required the project team to exercise influence, negotiation skills, and relationship building.

The Committee noted the work involved developing a translation into language suitable for children and the uniqueness of having a physical book in Te Reo Māori and English with Te Reo also immediately available to listen to.
Bilingual VOX books is a ‘world first.’ This was highlighted through an excellent interview with Raniera Kingi on the VOX Books project, which was screened on Te Ao Māori News. This showcased the project and also promoted the wider role of public libraries.

Congratulations to Auckland Council Libraries for continuing to develop ways to meet the diverse needs of their community and responding to literacy opportunities

On October 30, LIANZA Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui committee joined forces with LIANZA Special Libraries and Information Services (SLIS) to deliver an inspired regional hui at Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa National Library of New Zealand. Lynn Pham tells us about the day.
 
We welcomed over 70 colleagues from public, academic, and special libraries in the wider Wellington Region. The theme ‘the past, the present, and the future’ waved through the different presentations even with a diverse group of presenters.
 
Thinking about challenges and opportunities brought about by the development of technologies, Richard Foy, the President of the Archives and Records Association NZ, presented his view on digital transformations and the importance of archives with a great sense of humour. Richard’s talk covered the concept of the digital world and its evolution into a complicated, two-sided ecosystem, including its black side. Richard suggests that maintaining the core values of our services is crucial in this digital world.

Richard’s talk paralleled Marcus Harvey’s presentation later in the day. Marcus is the Academic Engagement team manager at Victoria University of Wellington Library. He discussed the impact of Artificial Intelligence in libraries and showed us a high-level view of the current status and the potential opportunities for adopting AI in libraries. It was great to see the interactive responses from our attendees eager to debate and learn about the libraries’ fate in the rapidly changing digital world.

Freedom to read is another topic attracting attention. It reminds us how critical the legal framework is to navigate this area alongside library policies and understanding censorship in Aotearoa. Louise LaHatte, chair of the LIANZA Freedom of Information Committee, joined Deborah Gordon, Collections Lead at Kāpiti Coast District Libraries, to host an open conversation about how to provide library services to our communities while acknowledging that challenging the old norms is, and will continue to be a controversial topic.

Attendees enjoyed the interactive workshop led by Annemarie Thomas and worked together to navigate their path through the Te Tōtara Workforce Capability Framework. Annemarie emphasized that the framework was a compass for anyone searching for direction on professional development. While this focus needed more time than we could arrange during the hui, the online resources are available on the LIANZA website.

Considered by many of us to be ‘my library’, Jane Brooker – Service Manager from Wellington City Libraries, told us about the work going into the Wellington Central Library building project. We were excited to learn that Te Matapihi, the new Wellington Central Library, will reopen in early 2026, and appreciated the inside view of the development and the vision for the library. It will become the home of many core services in the city.

This was also a day for making connections and I believe each person had something to bring home from the hui.
Respondents to the evaluation survey reported that they enjoyed learning from other library professionals (87%), the range of presentations (80%) and meeting others in the sector (60%). Participants recommended attending similar events and said:

LIANZA presidents Richard Misilei and Ivy Guo attended the IFLA International Futures Summit in Brisbane from September 30 to October 3, 2024. They talk about the highlights, themes and sessions they attended at this event.

IFLA TREND REPORT
An open panel was held on the 2024 IFLA trend report. The report looks at what is happening now and identifies future trends for librarians and professionals globally. With a comment on challenges, it’s a useful report to use to view the patterns emerging and to build services around these. The report identifies seven trends:

• Knowledge practices are changing
• AI and other technologies are transforming society
• Trust is being renegotiated
• Skills and abilities are becoming more complex
• Digital technologies are unevenly distributed
• Information systems are using more resources
• People are seeking community connection.

You can view the presentation recording here.

Ivy says that Trend 1 – knowledge practices are changing, is important to consider as a librarian’s role is to help people to create, consume and circulate information.
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There are additional scenarios in the report. Ivy references ‘Nothing is different, but everything has changed’ by R. David Lankes - University of Texas. For example, our ‘reference’ services from quality to reality with the question of AI hallucination. Support scholarly and literary publishing – but "the role of the librarian is less to find materials as to research and certify the origins of the materials."
 
Ivy attended a range of Ignite Talks on subjects such as using the ancient art of storytelling for library narratives in a digital world and libraries as brokers for intergenerational connectedness.

She also attended sessions on the American Library Association (ALA) and ALIA Professional knowledge domains which included– information services, information management, literacies and learning, technologies, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contexts, communities and stakeholders, research, leadership and management. Looking at  ALIA Professional Pathways Frameworks she noted “the diverse and often complex issues relating to the education and qualification pathways into the library and information profession”.
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Session recordings can be found here:

• Conversations and Provocations with Ng Cher Pong and Gene Tan
• Marek Kowalkiewicz: AI and the Rise of Digital Minions
• ALIA Professional Pathways Frameworks
• ALA Core Competences of Librarianship
• Presenting the IFLA Trend Report 2024 recording
• IFLA Trend Report

​RICHIE MISILEI’S EXPERIENCE OF IFS2024
The primary purpose for my attendance at IFS 2024 was to gain insights into international trends emerging for our sector, to network within the sector and to represent LIANZA. I was asked by IFLA President, Vicky McDonald, to be on a panel discussing Digital Social Justice as she especially wanted a ‘youth/community’ perspective.

KEY THEMES AND TOPICS COVERED

The impact of AI
AI is a worldwide topic that is increasingly becoming part of our culture. Being information professionals, it is important that libraries lay hold of this phenomenon and be leaders in navigating it, using it for our good, as well as being creators of it.

The immensity of AI, its capabilities, and its influence on culture and society is huge! Marek Kowalkiewicz spoke about the evolution of algorithms from following human instructions to influencing real-world outcomes. These can be both beneficial and harmful. Marek said, the fear of “AI taking over the world” will not happen because algorithms constantly need human supervision. My take-out was that the sector should consider how we can leverage AI for our good and how can we become leaders in this space?

IFLA Trend report: The long-awaited IFLA trend report was released at this summit. The last time a trend report was as fully researched as this one was, was over 10 years ago. Seven Trends were highlighted (as shown in Ivy’s section). The IFLA trend report would be a good place to start for LIANZA to see where we align and what we should be working towards.

Digital Social Justice: From my preparation notes, social justice in the digital age refers to the pursuit of fairness, equality, and human rights within the context of our increasingly digital and interconnected world. As technology becomes more integrated into everyday life, the principles of social justice—such as equity, access, participation, and rights—must be applied to digital spaces and technologies.
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A number of themes were discussed during this session:

• Multiculturalism and health equity -  does the digital world speak plain language for those who have English as a second language? Is the material culturally sensitive and appropriate?
• Open scholarship, access, publishing, OER campaign and digital spaces for the neurodivergent population; overcoming biases including biases in AI.
• Civic participation for youth and other populations with typically low voting turnout.
• Digital literacy and online safety.
• Advocacy for change through policy instruments.

During the Q&A, I was asked about connecting with ‘hard-to-reach’ communities. While not specific to this theme, I could see that the audience really wanted some ‘practical’ methods in dealing with this issue.

Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa LIANZA Council is excited to announce that our new Executive Director will be Laura Marshall.

Many of you will already know Laura as she was a previous Director of Te Aka Mauri Rotorua Libraries. Laura has recent experience as the GM Commercial Services with Hospice West Auckland and experience as the Commercial Manager at Rotorua Museum. She was the owner of Evergreen Books. Laura will commence as the LIANZA Executive Director on November 25.

Laura tells us about her experience and vision here:
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I am thrilled to join the LIANZA team. My experience as a community and business-focused leader with over 20 years in the literary sector, including owning prominent rare and second-hand bookstores, and serving proudly as Library Director at Te Aka Mauri Rotorua Library, will aid in my new role with LIANZA.
 
I also bring eight years of experience as a commercial manager in the not-for-profit sector, with expertise in revenue generation, partner development, marketing strategies, and volunteer support.
 
My governance experience includes working with board members, serving on the Kōtui Board, holding a volunteer board position, and being a member of the Institute of Directors (IOD).
 
I’m passionate about strategy and look forward to finding creative ways to support our members, while actively advocating for the vital role of libraries and information services within the wider community. One of my key goals is to explore how we can attract more people in the library world to join LIANZA and engage with the exciting opportunities we offer.
 
Outside of work, you’ll often find me stuck in a good book or at one of our stunning beaches, trying to improve my surfing skills.

Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin councils are working alongside the PSA to establish fair pay for library assistants

A pay equity claim was lodged by the Public Service Association (PSA) in 2019 with Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin councils.  

As pay equity work is an important issue for libraries and library staff across New Zealand, we expect this update will be of interest to the wider libraries and information management community.

The basis of the claim is that library assistant work is predominantly performed by women and has been historically undervalued.  It was agreed that the claim was arguable and in late 2020 the parties entered a Bargaining Process Agreement.

Currently, 976 employees (653 FTE roles as of June 2024) are the focus of this claim.  This number includes the variety of library assistant roles and shelvers employed by each of the six councils.

The process has involved extensive job task and responsibility analysis across library assistant roles in each council, and comparisons to jobs that require similar levels of skills, responsibility, and effort.  

Formal negotiations started in late July 2024. The council teams are currently reviewing and considering all relevant information.  All parties are currently preparing for negotiations to reconvene in November 2024.
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The councils and PSA continue to work on reaching agreement on this pay equity claim as soon as possible.

Tertiary Education Union Pay Equity Claim Update

There has been some progress in the TEU claim, although they are a few steps behind the PSA claim as the TEU claim was lodged a couple of years after the PSA claim. 

• The union / employer process arrangement has been signed off  
• They have agreed on an appropriate job evaluation tool to be used for these claims
• The unions held a series of workshops on university sites to outline the investigation process, the tool to be used, and the interview process. 
• And they have started work on agreeing an interview process.

​E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha o ngā hau e whā, tēnā koutou katoa.
 
He mihi tēnei ki a koutou o te whānau i whakarauika mai i raro i te kaupapa nunui o Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa 2025.

Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa LIANZA 2025 Conference will be every bit as amazing as LIANZA2023. LIANZA2025 is a wonderful opportunity to bring people together from across our diverse library and information sector. The conference will be held September 23 - 24, 2025 at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre in Pōneke Wellington.

We are very excited to announce the 2025 LIANZA Conference committee. From a strong group of 20 EOI’s we have a committee of ten people.

LIANZA is looking for library and information professionals or those from the wider cultural heritage sector who are members of LIANZA or Te Rōpū Whakahau and have expertise or an interest in copyright to join the LIANZA Standing Committee on Copyright.

“Being part of this committee has been amazing for my professional development and confidence around assessing and applying copyright. Being involved in the Copyright Act review alongside a great group of like-minded and experienced librarians is an amazing opportunity to advocate for the cultural sector and our patrons.”  
​Zoe Richardson, Auckland Museum and LSCC secretary

The Committee meets by Zoom monthly for an hour, and there can be work between meetings. With the aim of one in-person meeting per year, the expected time commitment is around 3-6 hours per month. Although there can be periods of intense work when preparing a submission, the committee shares the workload.

This committee is very collegial and joining is a great way to extend your awareness and understanding of New Zealand libraries' copyright issues. This is an exciting time to be working on copyright matters and joining the committee will give you the opportunity to help shape change. The review of the Copyright Act 1994 is likely to resume in 2025.

The initial commitment for membership is a three-year term. Sound like you?

• Complete the expression of interest by 15 November, and send it to officeadmin@lianza.org.nz 
• If you have any questions please contact Lee Rowe, the current chair at [email protected]

“It is an unprecedented time of change within the copyright sector. Joining this team presents a real opportunity to make a difference in advocating for New Zealand libraries throughout this period of copyright flux.” Anna Rennie, former LSCC chair

Te Tōtara Workforce Capability framework received unanimous sector leader endorsement at a hui for leaders held in Wellington in July.

In a joint statement, leaders from across the library and information management sector recognise that Te Tōtara provides the generic values, ethics and capabilities needed for working in the library and information sector:

“We encourage you to apply this framework to strengthen the learning and development culture in your teams and to strengthen diverse capabilities in your workforce.”

Representatives from LIANZA, Te Rōpū Whakahau, PLNZ, SLANZA, ARANZ, National and Alexander Turnbull Library attended the hui.

Cross-sector adoption of the framework strengthens career pathways into and across settings and assists teams to identify and prioritise capability-focused recruitment and development for the future.
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At the regional and local level, a growing number of teams are engaging as a ‘community of practice’, to share their thoughts and experiences of introducing Te Tōtara to their teams. Managers and team leaders are cognisant though, of adding another layer of expectation on to their team members.

In public libraries, kaimahi are experiencing multiple challenges, as part of larger organisations with fiscal restraints, restructures and role re-organisation. There are also more ‘asks’ of public libraries to be digital and community hubs, and whilst these challenges are welcome, they can test current capabilities.

So how can we fit professional development into the daily working lives of kaimahi? The answer is to make it a relevant, positive and simple process.

The framework acts as a reference tool for capabilities needed now and in the future. A short worksheet has been developed, Pātōtora for kaimahi to identify an area of development important to them and to foster a growth mindset.

At the individual level, this means showing awareness of one’s own strengths and areas for growth and a willingness to find and try appropriate learning opportunities. One kaimahi described how using Te Tōtara as a reference tool will give more meaning to the annual performance review process:

“How do I set my goals? I pull them out of the air a bit. This gives us something to base it on.”

The action plan in the Pātōtora worksheet supports kaimahi to set a goal or goals and to have this professional development conversation with their manager.

Alongside the Taku Tōtara workbook, the Pātōtora worksheet can be used by teams to assess their current strengths and to prioritise areas for focused development.

“I think we are often working on the same goals as individuals... better to identify a team goal.”

There are multiple applications for you to think about, whether using Te Tōtara as a conversation starter with kaimahi or for a formal gap analysis at team level. There are some webinars and in-person opportunities coming up to learn more and hear from your colleagues about how they are using Te Tōtara.

To find out more, or to join the Te Tōtara Community of Practice, contact Annemarie Thomas, LIANZA Project Manager: [email protected]

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha o ngā hau e whā, tēnā koutou katoa.
 
He mihi tēnei ki a koutou o te whānau i whakarauika mai i raro i te kaupapa nunui o Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa 2025.

Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa LIANZA 2025 Conference will be every bit as amazing as LIANZA2023. LIANZA2025 is a wonderful opportunity to bring people together from across our diverse library and information sector. The conference will be held September 23 - 24, 2025 at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre in Pōneke Wellington.

Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre
Opened in 2023 and located in the heart of Wellington's cultural precinct opposite Te Papa Tongarewa, Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre balances flexibility and functionality with the latest technology, cutting-edge contemporary design, and panoramic views over the city and Wellington harbour.

Tākina has been designed and built in a way that reduces negative impacts on the environment. It has been awarded Five Green Star Design certification – the first convention centre in the country to achieve this standard. Designed by Studio Pacific Architecture, Tākina’s iconic design draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, including its maritime location and Wellington’s dramatic and sometimes wild weather patterns and landforms. The Māori mythology of Te Upoko o Te Ika - the head of the great fish of Maui - is also represented within the architecture.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEEDED
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LIANZA 2025 will meet the sector's diverse professional needs and interests. It will be an unparalleled opportunity to connect and engage with delegates, speakers, and vendors.

We are seeking people keen to join the conference committee and help make LIANZA 2025 happen. The committee consists of the conference chair(s), programme coordinator, bicultural convenor (based on recommendations), social coordinator, and other members as required.  

Are you a passionate, energetic library or information person ready to create a conference programme and event that responds to the opportunities, issues, and trends facing the library and information sector?

Read the LIANZA Conference Code of Practice here.
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• The committee is strongly supported by the LIANZA Office and our professional conference organisers, The Conference Company.
• The conference committee develops the LIANZA 2025 conference vision and theme, creates the programme and plays a key role in the delivery of the conference alongside the Conference Company and LIANZA Office.
• You must be willing to work as a team to deliver an outstanding conference. Prior conference organising experience is not required, but your passion for the impact and contribution of the library and information sector is a must!
• You do not need to be located in Wellington and people are sought from any role within the GLAMMIR sector.
• All members of the committee, except the bi-cultural convenor, need to be personal members of LIANZA, Te Rōpū Whakahau or staff at LIANZA member institutions.
• The conference chair role can be shared by two people.
• Individuals or groups can express interest in forming the LIANZA 2025 conference committee. The LIANZA Council approves the committee's appointment, the conference vision, and the budget.
• Meetings will be held by Microsoft Teams and other communication will be by email.
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A minimum meeting time commitment may be an hour each month from December and more frequently in the six months prior to the conference.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
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Please complete this form by Friday, September 20 to tell us why you want to be involved, what you will bring to this work, and what you think LIANZA2025 needs to achieve for the sector. 

The first committee meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams in December.

If you have any questions, please email LIANZA Office at [email protected].