Blog Archives

How do library services respond to sudden closure?

26/7/2019

Tali Boardman, a library degree student at Open Polytechnic is currently undertaking a practicum in a cataloguing and technical services team at Wellington City Libraries. The library service recently had a sudden closure of their main central library due to building safety issues. As part of her practicum, Tali is investigating the impact of closure on library staff and their activities.

“I thought that there would be a whole bunch of information published, after all Wellington City Libraries is just the latest in the chain of unexpected closures in New Zealand but there is a surprising lack of anyone talking about it - either here or internationally.”

Her investigation is mainly focusing on how staff cope with a library closure and continue to perform essential tasks such as the challenge of purchasing and

cataloguing new material without a consistent delivery address (or docking bay), while in the branches, staff are dealing with increased workloads and upset, angry and seemingly grief-stricken patrons confused by the closure of 'their' library.

“I am interested in the impact of sudden library closure from the perspective of the cataloguing, acquisitions and technical services side and the flow-on effects on the branch libraries.
I have been having a good hunt through the library literature, but there appears to be a dearth of information that discusses this particular topic. I have found plenty of information about the value of libraries after disasters and as second responders but nothing really from the library's perspective when they are closed.”

Tali would love to hear from anyone who has gone through an unplanned library closure and are happy to share their experiences. Or if you know of any published research or articles on the topic? Her final report is due October, and any useful information gathered may be shared through Library Life.

Contact Tali at: [email protected]

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LIANZA Community Contestable Fund opens for applications

25/7/2019

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Do you have an initiative, a community or research project that needs some funding?

LIANZA is pleased to announce that the new LIANZA Community Contestable Fund is now open for applications from its communities.

The creation of a central fund using a proportion of accumulated LIANZA SIGs and Regions funding as at June 30, 2019 was a recommendation from the LIANZA SIGs and Regions Working Group. The fund has been established with the transfer of $60,000 into a separate fund account.

LIANZA will jump start the fund with an additional amount of up to $6,000 made available in 2019-20. The fund will grow in the second year as funds from interest, membership income and community surpluses are contributed at the end of the current financial year.

The purpose of the contestable fund is to provide funding support for research, advocacy, community projects and new initiatives.

All LIANZA regional communities and special interest communities are eligible to apply for the LIANZA Community Contestable Fund. LIANZA communities can opt to seek ideas or initiatives from LIANZA personal and institutional members who are part of their community and prioritise applications submitted for consideration.

The fund is also available to LIANZA communities working in partnership to launch an initiative and to LIANZA communities working in partnership with other GLAM sector organisations who can provide matched funding. The fund cannot be used to fund LIANZA national initiatives.

If you have an idea for an initiative that meets the eligibility criteria, then approach your LIANZA regional community or special interest community and see if they support your idea. You can find contacts for these LIANZA Communities at https://lianza.org.nz/lianza-communities/ or ask LIANZA Office to put you in touch.

The 2019 selection panel is made up of representatives from LIANZA Council, LIANZA regional communities – Hikuwai, Aoraki and Te Upoko te Ika a Maui and LIANZA special interest communities – CAT SIG, Res SIG, Health SIG, SLIS

For more information on what can be funded and eligibility criteria check out the LIANZA Contestable Fund Information.

All applications should be submitted to LIANZA Office on the LIANZA Community Contestable Fund Application Form and send to [email protected] by Tuesday September 24, 2019.

Successful applications will be advised by Friday October 18 and announced at #LIANZA19 Conference.

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The 10 commandments for keeping your sanity if you happen to be a copyright librarian

24/7/2019

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By Anonymous (Noord-Nederland) - View this work on the website of Museum Catharijneconvent, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38437245

Craig Turney kindly sent LIANZA this humorous set of guidelines on copyright that he wrote for while holding the position of Copyright Librarian at Weltec in 2014.

The 10 commandments for keeping your sanity if you happen to be a copyright librarian

Thou shalt accept that only God can know everything there is to know about copyright law.
Thou shalt accept that mere mortals such as yourself will go mad if you try to know everything about copyright law.
Copyright law is merely a subset of intellectual property law. Thou shalt accept that the world of intellectual property law is greater than your tiny mind. The World Intellectual Property Organization lists no less than 123 texts (43 laws, 28 implementing regulations and 52 treaties) relating to New Zealand, a country of less than 5 million people.
Thou shalt ignore flatterers who try to persuade you that you are the omniscient source of wisdom about copyright matters. Flattery is a way of getting somebody else to do something you do not want to do yourself. Don’t be flattered into making the copyright headaches of others your own.
If, however, for your sins you are the “resident copyright guru”, thou shalt accept that while you do not know everything, it is your job to find out the answers. Poor you. But moving on …
Thou shalt accumulate a file of guidelines and resources to help you find the answers in real time.
Thou shalt be vigilant for databases containing copyright friendly (free) resources.
Thou shalt relentlessly preach the virtues of attribution to staff and students.
Thou shalt not be so stupid as to talk about anything and everything else but attribution when discussing copyright with other people. Talk about attribution first, and worry about other details later, if at all.
Thou shalt go home at the end of the day and forget about it all. God only knows what laws, regulations and treaties tomorrow will bring.

Copyright query reference resources available online:

Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Act 2011
Copyright Act 1994
Copyright Act 1994 and amendments: Guidelines for Librarians
Copyright resources: (LIANZA)
Copyright guidelines: University of Waikato Copyright Information
Copyright guidelines: University of Waikato Copyright Q & A
No copyright on certain works: Section 27 of The Copyright Act 1994

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IFLA 2018 Annual Report Released

15/7/2019

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The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) has released its 2018 annual report, ahead of the 2019 World Library and Information Congress (WLIC 2019) in Athens next month. It is a great source of information for librarians and information professionals wanting to learn more about the work of this international organisation and build awareness of the work that will be discussed in detail at the WLIC 2022 hosted in Auckland in three years time.

Last year in Kuala Lumpur, IFLA launched an Ideas Store – aiming to create the biggest ideas store for actions in the library field, IFLA built a dedicated website to host a global call, through which every librarian worldwide was welcomed to submit ideas for actions to help fulfil the Global Vision.

Launched simultaneously was the Global Vision Report - an analysis of the 2017 Global Vision discussions held around the world. All library types contributed ideas to the Global Vision Report. It shows that across all regions, all library types, and lengths of library experience, we share a deep commitment to the enduring value and role of libraries. Across the global library field, no value was more highly rated than a commitment to equal and free access to information and knowledge.

Over 30,000 people have shared their opinions on the strengths and priorities of libraries from 190 United Nations Member States, and over 8,500 ideas were submitted to the IFLA Ideas Store from 154 UN Member States, from across the library field.
By using the worldwide library community’s unique perspectives on how to realise the 10 opportunities identified in the Global Vision, it has been possible to collect some truly inspirational ideas for action that highlight our profession’s creativity, diversity and commitment to innovation.

The thousands of ideas comprise a vast body of material collected by IFLA, fully analysed and submitted to the Governing Board, providing a basis from vision to action, towards the IFLA Strategic Plan 2019-2024.

“I have been privileged to be so closely involved in the IFLA Global Vision, which has set a new standard for inclusion and participation. This has truly taken the spirit of IFLA to libraries everywhere, bringing people together, mobilising them, and triggering the change in mindsets that I believe will be essential for a successful future”. Glòria Pérez-Salmerón President 2017-2019

During 2019, IFLA will continue to engage the library community globally in a discussion about the future of a united library field, going on to inspire and be inspired by the biggest Ideas Store for actions in the library field — a unique storehouse of inspirational ideas available to all librarians around the world! The Ideas Store, alongside the results of the Global Vision process, are also a core reference for the Governing Board in the preparation of a new Strategy. This will mark a new high point in IFLA’s ability to reflect and respond to the priorities and needs of its members.

Ref: IFLA Annual Report 2018 https://www.ifla.org/files/assets/hq/annual-reports/2018.pdf

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How do library services respond to sudden closure?

LIANZA Community Contestable Fund opens for applications

The 10 commandments for keeping your sanity if you happen to be a copyright librarian

IFLA 2018 Annual Report Released

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