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].

After winning first place in the IFLA PressReader International Marketing Award 2024, Catherine Leonard, Auckland Council’s Head of Library and Learning Services, shares the secret to the success of their membership campaign ‘100 reasons to have a library card’.

“Going to the library changed my life. It may even have saved it” Billy Connolly.

For those of us who understand the importance of libraries and the difference they can make in people’s lives, there’s no need to convince us to get a library card. But how do we make sure communities know how much their library card can offer them?

In 2020, Auckland Council Libraries completed a large-scale research project to identify opportunities to increase library memberships due to a decline in new and active members (those who have used their library card in the last 12 months).

The research showed general goodwill towards libraries, with most Aucklanders knowing about and valuing them, but not about the wide variety of collections and services available with a library card.
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There was also a traditional perception of libraries as “just books and quiet spaces” and “like a semi-distant relative that you love but don’t make it a priority to visit”.

Our job was to change that perception and reposition libraries in Aucklanders' minds. We wanted to raise awareness of our incredible collections and services and grow the number of Aucklanders with a library card in their back pocket.

YOUR STORY STARTS HERE

We benefitted from some fortuitous timing. Out of disruption and disaster, good things can come and thanks to the New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme funding and initiatives, we could redirect some operational budget savings. Working closely with the council’s marketing and communications specialists, we utilised some savings to engage a creative agency to give us a fresh outside-in view and a new way to connect with Aucklanders.

This investment meant we could commit to a three-year strategic marketing approach that could build, grow and adapt over time. This enabled a much more ambitious programme than we’d been able to have previously, with enthusiastic and sustained support from external and internal stakeholders.

After a series of collaborative workshops with library leaders, Auckland Council marketing specialists and agency experts, our ‘Your story starts here’ positioning statement, a communications guide and a three-year marketing plan were developed to align with the wider Auckland Council marketing goals and strategy.

Each phase of the plan targeted key audiences who could be convinced to get a library card and explore the breadth and depth of their library service. 

After going fines-free in 2021, an initiative aimed at removing barriers that stopped people from accessing their library service, the ‘100 reasons to have a library card’ campaign was designed to give Aucklanders 100 reasons (some sillier than others) to come along and start their story at the library.
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The eye-catching and vibrant campaign artwork featured services with high appeal, and the light-hearted copy re-framed libraries as a fun friend you can’t wait to hang out with.

We ran paid ads on various channels, including Stuff.co.nz, YouTube, social media and radio.

Our series of high-quality short videos for social media created an emotional connection with relatable examples of Aucklanders sharing their reasons for having an Auckland Council Libraries card. In addition, we featured the campaign on our regional and local library channels and Auckland Council channels.

This mix of creative and channels allowed us to run many tactical executions cheaply and effectively. Having multiple ‘reasons’ meant we could adapt messaging quickly if unplanned disruptions to service forced us to pivot - a skill we’ve all mastered over the last few years!

100 REASONS TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING
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We are thrilled to have won first place in the IFLA PressReader International Marketing Award 2024, among over 100 submissions from libraries worldwide.

Receiving this award was the perfect way to mark the final year of our three-year marketing plan and look ahead to our strategy and priorities for the coming years.

By taking this strategic approach, we went on a real journey ourselves. We knew that the problem we were facing wasn’t unique, and we wanted to share an approach that is cost-effective and adaptable by other libraries for the benefit of their own communities.

Comment from the judges

“We loved how the top campaign by Auckland Council Libraries embraced marketing with their “100 reasons to have a library card” campaign. The campaign was based on clear insight and defined audiences and objectives. Not only did this campaign deliver on its aims of recruiting new members, with 61% of recent members joining directly as a result of seeing the marketing campaign – it also did a brilliant job of bringing to life the full breadth of library activities, using the community as advocates and delivering this in a fun and eye-catching way”. 

On June 8 and 9, LIANZA Te Whakakitenga aa Kaimai hosted 53 librarians at the region's first post-COVID weekend school at the Matamata-Piako Civic and Memorial Centre / Te Whare Whakamaharatanga o te Hāpori o Matamata-Piako. This was a fantastic opportunity for librarians from around the region to network and learn what has been happening across the sector.

The programme began with a warm welcome from the team at Matamata-Piako, who hosted a beautiful mihi whakatau and a lovely morning tea. Presentations kicked off with a fascinating glimpse into the world of the Waikato Hospital Library presented by Nicole Frew. Nicole talked about Hospital libraries' unique role and the planned merging of library services across the health sector to create better collaborative outcomes for staff and patients.
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Katherine Bosworth from South Taranaki Libraries presented on their journey to a successful Summer Reading Programme and the importance of bringing the focus back to reading and staff engagement with children. Jo Cocker from the LIANZA Council then gave a comprehensive and compelling presentation on the role of libraries in supporting digital equity. 

Other highlights included Izzy Zhang from Highland Park Library presenting on using WeChat to help engage with their local Chinese population, Michelle Bradbury, Jody Smart, and Leslie Goodliffe from Tauranga Library Archives presenting on the challenges of relocating their collection to a temporary space, and Lisa Foster from Kaipara libraries talking about their Tutu collection of STEM and creative-based items. These talks were followed by a fantastic lunch and the opportunity to explore the Matamata library.

The afternoon was rounded off by Katarina Allely and Anne Dickson talking about the impact that the National Libraries Pūtoi Rito Communities of Readers had in the Kaipara libraries district and how it was used to create relationships with local organisations and to get free books into the homes of the local community. Joanna Thomas finished the day with a preview of the plans for the amazing new Tauranga public library building within the new civic precinct Te Manawataki o Te Papa.
 
Sunday began with a talk from Pete Elderkin, the LIANZA Executive Director. Then, Melanie Brebner, the District Library Manager for Matamata Piako libraries, presented a concise history of censorship in New Zealand and the current issues facing public libraries. Melanie discussed the LIANZA Freedom to Read Toolkit and its scope in supporting libraries with these challenges. This was followed by a networking event and art challenge hosted by Lisa Hayward that rounded off another engaging and inspirational day.

Thanks to Fiona Rongo and the team at Matamata-Piako for hosting this fabulous weekend of learning and professional development.

Ngā Puna Mātaraunga o Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta Upper Hutt Libraries have unique ways of reaching their community. With two mobile libraries, the EV Mangaroa and Pūrehurehu, as well as their Manaaki Cart, Upper Hutt Libraries outreach services can be found at most local festivals and community events, council events, schools, parks, early childhood centres, and older people's facilities. These vehicles are not just your average libraries on wheels, they are a unique and intriguing way to bring the joy of reading to communities.
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Two smaller and more flexible vehicles were chosen when the older and larger mobile library needed replacing. Pūrehurehu mobile library provides a more traditional mobile library service, visiting schools and places where library users can climb the steps to view and choose their books.
 
Mangaroa is New Zealand’s first electric mobile library service. Acknowledging local place names, flora and fauna once abundant in the upper reaches of Te Awa Kairangi (Hutt River), the name Mangaroa (Long Stream) was selected for the new EV to acknowledge the Mangaroa River one of the four main tributaries feeding Te Awa Kairangi. 

The artwork on Mangaroa and its custom-built portable shelving feature iconic scenes the community of Upper Hutt knows and loves, with references to Te Awa Kairangi and the flora and fauna surrounding the city. The landscape imagery on the EV includes books and illustrations of solar panels to serve as reminders of the mobile library service's eco-friendly nature.

The specially designed shelves can be rolled out of the vehicle and taken into the facilities—this works for retirement villages where climbing steps isn’t easy and for early childcare centres. Shelving unit displays are also on the side of Mangaroa for customers to choose items from.
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“These vehicles give us the most amazing flexibility to respond to any situation,” says Denise Clarkson Upper Hutt libraries Manager.
 
Choosing an EV was important to the library. Their council was putting greater emphasis
on sustainable practices and an EV aligned with that direction and what they were trying to do at the library.
 
“It’s great for getting attention from non-library users as it creates a talking point. And when it comes to sustainability, why not tread more lightly on the earth if you can? The cost-benefit analysis works out cheaper too.”
 
These smaller vehicles make it much easier to access facilities that might have difficult driveways or turning areas. Because they are smaller, staff don’t need a heavy traffic licence to drive them.
Library users love the new vehicles. “Sometimes we have them parked out the back of the library or facility and people come and see the eye-catching murals and tail lift when we are loading and unloading as they want to know more. Children get excited when they see us.”
 
“There’s still a lot of residents that don’t know about what we do – so we always look for an excuse to take Mangaroa and Pūrehurehu out to the community and sell our libraries services.”

​Visits to remote schools are now possible and extending visits to afterschool times means parents can also use the mobile library service.
 
The vehicles also support one-off community events and regularly attend council community events, recreation and sports events, and festivals. During the recent July school holidays, the vehicles featured heavily in Upper Hutt City Council’s Uplay school holiday events, with pop-up visits to rural schools, remote suburbs, parks and playgrounds.
“We even participate in the Santa Parade – it’s a way to get out there to non-library users.”
Another innovation in their outreach service is the Manaaki Cart consultation wagon, which was designed and built with NZLPP funding and finished just before COVID stalled plans for its initial launch.
 
The Manaaki Cart fits into Mangaroa and can be used for outreach events. It has great interactive components, including mini polls, to capture feedback from the community. Flip out tables and stools where a laptop can be used help introduce library products like LinkedIn Learning and e-books.
 
However, the Outreach Team learned their lesson at a Libraries in the Park pop-up event, "We’ll try to sign-post ourselves better, but we might also have to take ice blocks in the future, as some children were disappointed to find out Mangaroa was not an ice cream truck!”

A library redevelopment in Feilding started construction in 2022. However, the project started long before that, says Adie Johansen, Community Services Manager, Manawatū District Council. The new library space opened on July 22.

Since 2014, we have been journeying to liven our library services and embody ‘Libraries as community hubs’. The redevelopment and earthquake strengthening sought to modernise and expand the spaces to increase opportunities. We added meeting and event spaces, a public kitchen, a space for youth, a café, tiered seating, and a mezzanine floor, as well as updated shelving systems and break-out spaces and technology to activate spaces and allow further access. We have become Manawatū Community Hub Libraries, and our facility is called Te Āhuru Mōwai, meaning a safe haven for our community to be in, learn in and thrive in.

It would be hard to suggest that this redevelopment has one unique element. For instance, elements of the cultural narrative are woven throughout the facility in various textures, including wood panels, window manifestations, and meeting room names.

​We are the first in the country to provide after-hours self-service access to full library services and meeting rooms. Open Plus is an extension to staffed hours up to 11pm daily and 9:30am – 11pm on Sundays and Public Holidays for library services and we are using Gallagher system to allow access to the meeting rooms.

The four meeting spaces, with capacities ranging from 4 to 146, are a crucial part of the design. They serve as a bridge, bringing businesses, classes, and professionals into the services offered by the Manawatū Community Hub Libraries. The onsite café further enhances the informal gathering space, addressing the lack of meeting spaces in our district. 

Open Plus, is a free membership add-on that provides after-hours self-service access to Manawatū Community Hub Libraries (MCHL) extending our staff hours to 11pm, and open on Sundays and Public Holidays – ensuring community connection is met. We believe we are the first library in New Zealand to do this.

As part of the overall landscape plan for Te Āhuru Mōwai, a bird corridor is being planted between the new facility and carpark. Bird corridors are a specific trail of plantings that help birds fly from different sections of native trees throughout the district.

One thing I’ve learned while building and designing this new library is that if you are redeveloping an existing space, do as much invasive investigation as you can beforehand to minimise considerable variations, especially when earthquake strengthening. Go as big as you can—if you build it, they will come.

Our 2014 Section 17A report started our journey to modernise and expand services. Our Strategic Framework 2017-2022 actions included maximising space, and we included a libraries investigation in our Community Facilities Strategy. Community consultation occurred numerous times. By the time this article comes out, we will only have opened, and we will have achieved our four goals.
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Redeveloping your library or building a new one is such an incredible thing for your community. Finding third-party funding is complex and lengthy, but there are places you can apply to, and every little bit helps. Not every community member sees the value and investment in a library, let alone a large-scale redevelopment. Use those conversations and comments to educate the community and motivate your employees to share the services, the value and the connection that the work done in a library or community facility brings to those in the area it services.  

In 2011, a review of the South Taranaki Libraries by consultant Nikki Moen identified the need for a new Hāwera Library as a multi-purpose library, community, culture and heritage facility. South Taranaki District Council agreed to the build as part of a wider town revitalisation and the project made it through the long-term planning process. Then the difficult search for a suitable site began.
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By 2017 we could start, and architects Warren & Mahoney were selected. To our delight, the main architect, Daniel Thompson, is originally from Hāwera so the project is close to his heart.

From day one we’ve wanted our new build to act as a cornerstone of a wider project to rejuvenate the town centre, increasing foot traffic, encouraging new retail experiences, and giving people a reason to stay here at the weekends rather than heading to New Plymouth which is an hour away and in another district.

The 1,600 square meter building incorporates the AA and iSite centre, a café, meeting rooms and moves a Council-supported art gallery from leased premises into a new purpose-built space. It almost doubles the library space from our existing beautiful, but cramped, heritage building. 

We have worked closely with iwi from the start. Ngati Ruanui, as mana whenua, gifted us the name Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga which means the beacon or signal fire of Ruapūtahanga, a revered ancestress. When there was a need, she would light the beacon as a signal for iwi to meet so they could talk, share ideas and knowledge. The name perfectly symbolises the new build’s purpose.
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Five years on from appointing architects, where are we at? We are due to move premises in late October. We’ve gone from an 8 million dollar build to a 15-million-dollar build. Some of the pre-cast panels broke at the manufacturing site on the East Coast during Cyclone Gabrielle. We had to slightly decrease the footprint early on when we realised the cost would be too high. There’s been substantial delays due to COVID, and then not-COVID. Something leaked, something broke, something got put in the wrong place, so we had to alter a bathroom plan. Does it matter? No, not really … grey hair aside!

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

The first lesson is that my old project manager colleague Kobus was right – take the original cost estimate, double it, and then add a bit for good measure.

Know what you’re good at, then pay for expertise in your weaker areas. My colleague Phil, the project manager, and I decided the soft fit out was not our area of expertise, so we have willingly paid for additional work by the architects. They looked at what’s happening in libraries around the country, mainly with new builds. They talked about using a bookshop style layout, flexible seating, interactive children’s areas and collaborative workspaces etc. Was there anything we didn’t know? No, but it helped solidify our ideas and was cheaper, and less stressful, than a grand tour!

Find ways to keep staff engaged in the project, especially when it doesn’t look like anything is happening. When work first started there was a lot going on. But it was all underground services - a million dollars’ worth in fact. For months at a time, it looked like the project had stalled. Providing updates, showing them fabric or furniture samples and asking their opinion, has helped keep staff engaged. That aside, I still feel we haven’t done anywhere near enough.
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The biggest lesson for us has been that what you need changes over time, and the process doesn’t easily allow for that. We have two key examples, and I hope talking about them helps others avoid the same mistake. 

As the joiner was about to start making the counters Phil shared the detailed plan with me “just in case”. The plans had been drawn pre-COVID and included fins along the front of the main counter, to keep people back a little, which seemed sensible at the time. No one thought to revise it, me included. During COVID we added glass barriers at the counter in all seven libraries. In addition, for some reason the counter had been designed at a sitting height, but of course we stand at the counter. Between the fins, the glass barriers, and a slightly deeper than normal desk, staff would be reaching too far to get books, paperwork etc and would risk injury over time. Needless to say, the counter design has been reworked.
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In the last few years, we’ve faced increasing aggression and COVID has certainly increased people’s aggressive tendencies. We have used a security guard at one of our smaller branches, something I never thought would happen, and have a lockdown procedure which we’ve had to use a few times. Which leads me to the second, far more concerning oversight on my part.

We were looking at the configuration of the workroom, my office, project and staff meeting rooms and realised we had too few locks and had designed a trap. If we retreated into my office or the workroom due to someone being significantly aggressive at the main counter, we had no exit point. We decided to take a two-fold approach to resolve the problem – more locks and an exit of some sort.

We initially looked at more mag locks, but the additional cost was in the region of $35,000. Hard to justify when we’re going out with an 11% rate increase. In the end we went for doors that auto lock but can be opened easily from the inside. I’ve yet to receive the final cost.

At the back of the workroom, opening into a long, narrow alley, we have a series of windows. The architect has changed the configuration of one of the larger windows so that it can be opened and used as an emergency exit. It’s not as wide as we’d have preferred, but it was too late to change the width without substantial cost. We decided in an emergency, even those of us who are less than sylph-like would get through it. We’ll ensure it’s part of building induction for new staff, and practice using it with lockdown drills. Is it ideal? No. Is it workable, and affordable? Yes. Do I wish I had thought of it sooner? Absolutely.

I never thought I’d get a new build in my library career, so it’s a wonderful challenge and we’re all excited to get into our new facility. 

Dahlia Malaeulu is a Samoan New Zealander with connections to the villages of Vaivase tai and Sinamoga in Samoa. Dahlia is a writer, publisher and the founder of Mila’s Books, which produce Pacific children’s books that help tamaiti be seen, heard and valued. Dahlia is a major advocate for Pasifika literature and creating spaces that support Pasifika voices and was the recipient of the New Zealand Emerging Publisher of the year in 2023.
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Mila's Books was born out of a desire to fill the gap Dahlia saw in the availability of culturally relevant and engaging literature for Pasifika children.

A new feature is the Pasifika Book Hub, a much-needed space created to support new Pasifika storytellers, connect people to our beautiful Tagata o le moana stories, and encourage the growth of Pasifika publishing. The Pasifika Book Hub has been warmly received by the book and schooling community, becoming a valuable resource for educators, parents, and children seeking culturally relevant Pacific books by Pasifika authors.

Mila’s Books created the Pasifika Book Hub for two main reasons.
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“Firstly, I know what it is like to start and travel this book journey alone and we really want to change this for the next generation of Pasifika publishers and storytellers by creating a space that provides advice and guidance from experienced publishers.”

Secondly, there is a huge hunger and need for these stories. For Mila’s Books to achieve its mission, it needs access to stories from Pasifika storytellers and more support for its growth than ever before. So, the Pasifika Hub is really a go-to space for all of this.

Libraries are crucial in supporting Mila’s Books’ mission by providing access to the books and resources. They can help by featuring Mila's Books in their collections, hosting author events and readings, and promoting the stories.
“Libraries can also collaborate with us on literacy programs and workshops highlighting Pasifika literature and culture throughout the year, not just during our national Pasifika language weeks.”

But most importantly, says Dahlia, “I believe all library staff should read and experience the power of our stories as Pasifika. We believe books are bridges and windows, and our stories' impact on people and communities to better connect, understand and develop cultural confidence has been amazing. This is why the work we do at Mila’s Books will always be much more than books and we aim to change the world of readers one book at a time.”

Ultimately, by working together, we can ensure that Pasifika stories are shared widely and that our children see themselves reflected in the books they read.

Recently released is Mataali’i, a story about the Samoan perspective on the Pleiades star cluster. It is in high demand, with over 500 copies sold in the first week of its release. It is dedicated to a founding Mila’s Books member and author, Emeli Sione, who now lives among the stars. 

The Auckland Council Libraries 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. 

At Auckland Council Libraries, we pride ourselves on having a broad and deep range of collection material for all types of readers, including those for whom literacy and language can be a work in progress. Our literacy and language collections include titles from international publishers, including abridged classics from UK-based Penguin Readers and the ‘Soft Skills at Work’ series from Canada’s Grass Roots Press.

In 2020, our literacy specialists identified a lack of adult literacy content reflecting Māori, Pasifika and Aotearoa New Zealand stories and culture. They set about addressing this through a partnership producing books suitable for adult learners with Literacy Waitākere, a not-for-profit community organisation that has been operating in Auckland for over 40 years.
 
The result has been the development of the series, ‘Stories of our Lives: Tō Mātou Ao, A Mātou Pūrākau’. Titles in the series capture the lived experiences and stories of Literacy Waitākere learners.

These include stories from those who have now passed, such as Rose Hunt’s recollections of her time working at the Crown Lynn factory in Auckland’s New Lynn, as well as from current literacy akonga (students), including MJ, who describes growing up in Ngāruawāhia in ‘The River’.

H. Dawlatyar’s personal story ‘From Bamyan to Auckland’ recollects his journey from Afghanistan as a refugee and is beautifully illustrated by kaiako (tutor) Nina Mercep.
 
These stories bring the literacy journey of Literacy Waitākere students to life, from struggling with language and understanding to having their stories published and made available in our libraries across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
We’re excited to be launching three more titles soon to join the six already published. This year, we will continue to work together on this project for a fourth year.
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If you are interested in purchasing any of these books for your library collections, please get in touch with Literacy Waitākere by phone: 09 825 0220 or email: [email protected]

Written by Kirstin Kane, Senior Librarian Content Development, Auckland Council Libraries

On July 5, Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa (LIANZA) and Te Rōpū Whakahau formally acknowledged a new partnership agreement.
 
This partnership agreement solidifies our special relationship and is the start of a stronger relationship between the two associations. LIANZA is excited to work with Te Rōpū Whakahau in supporting and empowering Māori librarians and information professionals. 
 
LIANZA's Immediate Past President, Richy Misilei, says the partnership will be honoured and respected, creating unity and uplifting everyone that LIANZA and Te Rōpū Whakahau serve—our people, our communities, and our kaimahi.