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Meet NZMS, our Platinum Partner Te Pou Maungakiekie!

30/7/2021

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Andy Fenton, NZMS founder and chairman of the board, discusses what it means to him to be able to support the LIANZA 2021 Conference as the Platinum Partner Te Pou Maungakiekie.

New Zealand Micrographic Service (NZMS) was founded in 1990 and it’s sister company Desktop Imaging Ltd in 1997. Andy Fenton is an expert in heritage digitisation projects, and has overseen more heritage projects than any other New Zealander. His expertise in the application of digitisation services for the collections of “memory institutions” is highly valued in the GLAM sector both nationally and internationally.
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Tell us a little about yourself! 

I moved around a lot as a nipper with seven schools before the age of 12.  Not many realise, because I omit to tell them that I was born in Sydney but 'ran away' from there as a seven-month-old. I  spent time in Glasgow, Gosport, Ipswich,  and Portsmouth before emigrating to Auckland. It was the best thing my parents ever did for me and my older sister. After a few awkward transitional months at the intermediate I was embraced by some brilliant teachers and mates at Papatoetoe High School.
I joined the Royal New Zealand Navy as a 17-year-old. The navy trained me for a year and as part of the cadetship sent me to Auckland University, in uniform, for a computer science degree before spending five years navigating at sea, and a few years in ‘Naval Staff’, based in what is now the MBIE building in Stout St, Wellington.

I married Audrey in 1988, and after I left the navy, we joined her parents who came from Perth, in moving to Wellington in 1990 to establish NZMS which turned 31 in June 😊. We have two fantastic kids, Michael and Kate who are gorgeous young adults just starting out on their own careers in Wellington.

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So, why do you think libraries and information services are important to a community?

It stems from a personal experience! The simple pleasure of taking my own kids to our local library  in Tawa and the city library for many years is a treat to remember.  Observing the assistance librarians give folk of all walks of life is a pleasure.  Becoming aware of the amazingly rich and diverse resources available in libraries, and online, is one thing; the fact librarians can be so intimate with it, and knowledgeable about it, never ceases to amaze me: “Ask Google anything and it will give you a million answers in seconds, ask a librarian and they’ll provide the right one” resonates so often...

The hugely positive impact of the NZ Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP) for public libraries and their communities warms my heart. Seeing community engagement - and how to use digital transformation, digital inclusion, and digitisation in particular - as vehicles to strengthen communities truly pushes my buttons. 

The flow-on effect of the benefits this will bring to the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories from 2022 onwards and the ability for schools to incorporate their local history is such a cool outcome as well, along with the social and economic benefits more traditionally described as outcomes that libraries bring to our society. Here’s hoping this Government’s focus on well-being means further investment in our sector for guaranteed human, social and financial capital returns!  ​

Do you have a fond moment of a library or librarian you can share with us?

At LIANZA ’97 Conference in Whanganui, Helen Woodhouse who was the Takapuna Library Manager and Margaret from Raeco (and also from Papatoetoe) made a real effort from the first night to ensure a couple of wide-eyed ‘conference virgins’ (yes, we were called that!) were introduced to lots of people and we were made to feel super-welcome throughout the duration of the conference. That simple act of friendship and kindness inspired me for what can be achieved at such an event – admittedly I hadn’t learned I was a vendor yet. You may have heard of the other newbie, it was Kim Taunga and the two of us have shared that story pretty much at every LIANZA Conference since, and to this day I take great pleasure in ensuring first-time LIANZA-goers are made to feel ‘part of the whānau’. 😊
What does it mean to you and your organisation to be able to support LIANZA as the platinum partner for the 2021 Conference?

I am especially passionate about (digital) community engagement and believe libraries can offer a brilliant delivery model throughout our country.  It’s one way NZMS can show some leadership for and contribute to our sector, and I am / we are very proud to show support this way: we all believe #LibrariesChangeLives.

I consider we are at a juncture for libraries where the right people are saying the rights things; the Government via the NZLPP has provided investment in the right parts of Aotearoa (the community public library); advocacy from LIANZA and the National Library has never been stronger.  However, that money runs out in 2022 in classic, unimaginative,  pre-pandemic government-funding models.  I contend it is time for local and central government to acknowledge the difference our sector can make to the well-being of Kiwis by building library workforce capability, staffing and service offerings in a business as usual financial model for developing our communities.  I want to see the energy and impact libraries have made as a result of the pandemic harnessed before the separation becomes too big to span between the haves (access to technology) and the have nots... #DigitalInclusion.  Otherwise we will see a wonderful NZLPP blip in the impact that libraries can have in people’s lives… then slip back to us preaching to the converted – ourselves!  

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Do you have any favourite books or authors?

I love non-fiction narratives about early Aotearoa and South Pacific exploration – the first inspiration was Maurice Shadbolt’s New Zealand Wars trilogy which I read in the mid-90’s, and I’m currently enjoying Dame Anne Salmond’s Tears of Rangi.  For a lighter read favourites include David Baldacci, especially the Camel Club quadrilogy and Lee Child' s Jack Reacher series. 

Anything additional you’d like to say about librarians, libraries, or the information sector? 

I have always been drawn to selflessness and generosity of spirit which in my extensive experience seems to be a universal trait in librarians. I find I instinctively respond by wanting to participate, to contribute - to help librarians facilitate engagement with communities in ways.  NZMS and I can work alongside you to make a difference.  I have attended every LIANZA Conference since 1997 in Whanganui and deeply value the collegiality and whanaungatanga which is so prevalent.  But it’s never about me, this is about all of us at NZMS saying we deeply respect and admire what librarians do for their respective communities, and we want you to know we appreciate it.

I love the efforts the sector has made in leadership development.  Some of the most impressive librarians I met in the nineties and noughties were products of the Aurora course... they inspired me.  I was a strong supporter of the Kōtuku initiative and would love to see that re-imagined for present day.

To find out more about this years LIANZA 2021 Conference or to register yourself to attend, please click on the link below!
LIANZA 2021 Conference
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Who got the job... The University of Otago Librarian!

29/7/2021

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Each month we feature an individual who has recently moved to a new role in the library and information sector within New Zealand. This month we’re featuring Mike Wall who has recently filled a position with the University of Otago, Dunedin as their University Librarian.
 
Mike has graciously answered a couple of our burning questions about his new position and what being the University Librarian is all about. Thank you Mike for taking the time to answer our Q&A! 
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Born in Nottingham, England I was the youngest of three children and the first in my family to obtain a degree. I hold a BSc in Sport Science and a postgraduate qualification in Librarianship. At the start of my library career I was a Hospital Librarian and then worked in Public Libraries before joining the University of Bristol. At Bristol I worked in several roles over a 26-year period, including as Education Librarian, Staff Development Co-ordinator, Medical Librarian and Library Development Manager, before joining the Library’s Senior Management Team. I led a 10-year Library Refurbishment Programme and oversaw the introduction of the Research Service covering Open Access and Research Data Management. After our children finished University, my wife and I moved to Durham in the North East of England, so I could take up the role of Deputy Librarian at the University. I was responsible for Customer Services, Research and Systems, Finance and Administration as well as major projects. I held this position for five years before moving the University of Otago in March 2021.

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Tell us a little bit about the job!

I am responsible for leading the library service contributions to the learning and research of the University and external engagement through five libraries and the Hocken Collections in Dunedin, plus libraries in Invercargill and later this year the University’s health libraries in Wellington and Christchurch. The digital services support students, staff and others in the wider university community wherever they are based, including distance learning students who can be based anywhere in the world.

A large part of my role is as an enabler for my 110 colleagues, to ensure they have the support to excel in their roles. One aspect that is particularly important is making connections across the University and beyond to ensure that the library’s contributions meet the needs of students, staff and wider communities.
Why did this role interest you?

Having been a Deputy University Librarian at two UK Universities , at Bristol and Durham, I wanted to further my career as a University Librarian. The Otago role was advertised less than a year after a spent 5 weeks in NZ Aotearoa on holiday and visiting my eldest son and his fiancé. Otago University was exactly the type of institution I was looking for, having a strong research and education profile, and located in a small city.


What exciting projects will you be working on within your role?

I am looking forward to further developing the digital capability of our services and our digital infrastructure, particularly so that we have digital content discoverable and useable for all and to ensure the digital content will be preserved for the long term (where this is needed).

I am preparing a long term development plan for the physical library spaces to ensure they meet the needs of students and researchers over the next 20 years.


In the future, what do you hope to achieve in this role?

I want to increase the proportion of Maori staff across all roles through recruitment as vacancies arise. This will be especially important, not just within the library, but across the university as part of our Maori Strategic Framework. By doing this we can move more quickly to aligning our services with the needs of our Maori student, staff and external communities.

I am keen to help my colleagues in the Hocken Collections to extend the reach of the physical and digital collections to even more people, including making supporting schools as NZ history curriculum changes.



What does a fun working day in your new role include?
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Meeting colleagues from outside the library and making connections for future collaborative work especially when this feels like this is a first connection for them. Helping them see the relevance of the library to their work and the contribution it makes to the university.

Supporting a colleague with a problem and seeing them reach the solution themselves.

I’m meeting all library staff for 1:1’s at the moment, with over 100 colleagues this is taking a while. It is hugely enjoyable as I am getting to understand the varied life and career journey’s – there are so many talented colleagues who bring such a breadth of experience to their roles.



What advice do you have for someone aiming to progress their career in libraries?
  • Be open to trying different work opportunities, such as projects, contributing to professional organizations or different roles.
  • Challenging yourself to do things that you don’t find easy, whilst ensuring you have support to ensure you thrive even if you don’t fully succeed.
  • Be self-reflective and understand how others view you. Be willing to help others, but don’t be afraid to ask others for help too.

If you or someone you know has recently started a new job in the GLAMIR (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums, Iwi and Records) sector and would like to featured in next months "Who Got The Job" please contact our office: officeadmin@lianza.org.nz. 
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Your reading guide to happiness

29/7/2021

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Now your readers can find and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library in just a few taps with Libby, OverDrive’s award-winning free app.

With Libby, readers can:
  • Read across devices - All your loans, notes, bookmarks, and reading progress sync across your devices.
  • Offline access – Download ebooks and audiobooks for offline reading or stream them to save space.
  • Listen in your car – Enjoy audiobooks in your car through Apple CarPlay, Android Auto or a Bluetooth connection.

Learn more about why Libby is trusted by millions of library patrons around the world.
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New Zealand’s first EV mobile library service to start in Upper Hutt

22/7/2021

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New Zealand’s first electric vehicle mobile library service, Mangaroa, is coming to Upper Hutt Libraries. Blessed this morning, Thursday 22 July, by Matua Kura Moeahu of Te Āti Awa, this service will be in addition to the existing mobile library bus Pūrehurehu and will help to provide greater access to library resources around Upper Hutt. This EV service will begin in early September of 2021 visiting various community spaces including schools and rest homes.
 
“We are delighted with Mangaroa, and are very proud to have the first EV mobile library service in New Zealand,” says Upper Hutt Libraries Manager, Marion Read. “Our purpose-built EV has been worth the wait and we’re looking forward to connecting with more of our local community.”
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2021-07-22 Managaroa EV 1:, the new Upper Hutt Libraries EV with Matua Kura Moeahu of Te Āti Awa, Marion Read Upper Hutt Libraries Manager, Patrick Smith Kaitakawaenga Kaupapa Māori, Strategy Partnerships and Growth, Rachel Esson National Librarian, and Mayor Wayne Guppy (left to right.)
Keeping in line with the revival and acknowledgment of local place names, flora and fauna once abundant in the upper reaches of the Te Awa Kairangi (Hutt River) the name Mangaroa (Long Stream) was selected for the new EV to acknowledge the Mangaroa River which is one of the four main tributaries feeding Te Awa Kairangi. The Mangaroa River lies at the western foothills of the Remutaka Ranges originating opposite Stokes Valley and flows north for the length of Upper Hutt entering Te Awa Kairangi at Te Marua.
 
As the Mangaroa River travels the full length of Upper Hutt providing life-supporting nutrients to Te Awa Kairangi, the new EV mobile library service travels the length of Upper Hutt making readily available both mātauranga (knowledge) and manaakitanga (support) to those within our community who cannot readily access it.
 
As natural features, the first, Pūrehurehu originates on the western side of Te Awa Kairangi and the second, Mangaroa orignates on the eastern side therefore providing a balance in relation to our most prominent taonga (treasure), Te Awa Kairangi.
 
The artwork on the exterior of the EV by Christopher Davidson has been designed to continue the story first brought to life through Pūrehurehu, the mobile library bus launched in 2020. The artwork on Mangaroa and its custom-built portable shelving inside has elements of iconic scenes the community of Upper Hutt know and love 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 eco-friendly nature of the mobile library service.
Mangaroa was custom-built to be a fit-for-purpose EV mobile library service providing outreach access to the community. The EV chassis and cab were purchased from a local dealer in Lower Hutt; and the building of the custom storage pod at the rear of the vehicle was completed by local manufacturing experts, MF King Industries, which specialise in fabricating truck and trailer solutions. When the service begins in September, the vehicle will be used as a multipurpose outreach facility to work with various parts of the Upper Hutt community.
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​2021-07-22 Managaroa EV 2: Managaroa, Upper Hutt Libraries new EV mobile library service vehicle with awning open to show custom built book shelves.

Contact
For more information on this news release, please email library@uhcc.govt.nz.
For more information on Upper Hutt City and the City Council go to www.upperhuttcity.com
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New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme Announcement!

6/7/2021

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In July 2020 the New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP) funding package was announced to retain and support librarians and library services so they can further help community recovery from COVID-19. Since its inception the programme has committed to fund and support over 180 people in library roles and ensure free and easy access to the internet and library digital services.

You may remember that, as part of the NZLPP, our organisation was invited to submit a proposal for a strategic partnership grant. The non-contestable grants are an opportunity to build on the work already delivered by the NZLPP and broaden it to support to the wider library sector in a strategic way that contributes to its sustainability.
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We were encouraged to partner with others, including those outside the library sector, for effective delivery of proposals where it makes sense to do so. The proposal we submitted had to demonstrate alignment to the programme’s objectives.

The proposals were reviewed by members of the Library and Information Advisory Commission (LIAC). LIAC are established under the National Library’s legislation to provide advice to the Minister of Internal Affairs on library and information issues, including mātauranga Māori.


Eleven Strategic Partnership Grants have been awarded, totaling just over $5 million. Sector organisations were encouraged to partner with others and seven of the successful projects are collaborations.

LIANZA and SLANZA are partnering to deliver the largest grant of $1,500,000 to provide a qualifications uplift across the library and information sector. LIANZA also received a grant to support the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Books Alive events and virtual storytimes in 2021 and 2022.

LIANZA Executive Director, Ana Pickering was delighted to attend a gathering on July 6 with other representatives from other sector organisations, Te Puna Foundation and staff from National Library of New Zealand. The Hon Jan Tinetti, Minister of Internal Affairs shared her enthusiasm for libraries, her vision for a future where libraries provide stronger community connections and congratulated all recipient organisations.
Photo Credit: Mark Beatty, National Library of NZ
Read more about the strategic grants at https://natlib.govt.nz/about-us/collaborative-projects/new-zealand-libraries-partnership-programme.

To learn more about who received the strategic grants and the work NZLPP has been doing throughout the year view their presentation.​
NZLPP PRESENTATION
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LIANZA Murihiku welcomes, Mike Wall

6/7/2021

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LIANZA Murihiku celebrated the mid-winter last Wednesday, immediately after work at The Swan. This is a delightful cosy café in Bath St., a little back street below the lower Octagon https://www.theswan.nz/.​
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We hired the venue to enjoy the opportunity to catch up with professional colleagues from around Dunedin and beyond. Those who attended, included Fiona Kerr from Waitaki District Libraries, who travelled down from Oamaru, especially for the evening. Marilyn Fordyce, from the University of Otago, and a distinguished Fellow of LIANZA, was also in attendance. Jacinta Beckwith, a member of Te Rōpū Whakahau, blessed the kai before we enjoyed the various platters that had been prepared for us. All up, there were 15 of us in attendance, and a few apologies also received.
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The star attraction of the evening was the opportunity for those gathered to meet Mike Wall, the new University of Otago Librarian. Mike took up his duties in person in February of this year, having been offered the position one year earlier, just before Covid19 turned the world upside down. Mike shared with us his story of his attraction to librarianship, the development of his career, and various experiences that have been major influences on his professional development. 

Mike also shared with us his experiences over the last year, of continuing to work as Deputy Librarian at Durham University Library during the Covid era. He observed that in the UK, the universities received mixed messages from the Government, making planning that more challenging. During the lockdown period, the senior library management team worked even more closely together – by Zoom – than usual. With the support of various teams, various initiatives that were being planned for roll out over the next two years, were successfully fast tracked and implemented in record time, so as to provide additional support to the University community, by way of technology.

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Recently, Mike featured in the Otago Bulletin, where he was interviewed, and you can read more about him, and his journey to New Zealand:

Mike’s Linked In profile can be found at: https://nz.linkedin.com/in/mike-wall-7413b58

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Welcome, new members of LIANZA regional and special interest communities!

6/7/2021

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It is the time of year when LIANZA regional and special interest communities refresh their committees. New members join, and existing members offer their time and enthusiasm for another year. New people step up to the chair role or become the treasurer, and existing members step back to support new people into committee roles.

Our special interest and regional communities play a vital role in connecting our members and providing professional events, networks, and social events. All LIANZA members automatically become part of their regional community and can opt to join one or more special interest group – all for the price of their annual membership.

This year many LIANZA members have joined a LIANZA community committee for the first time. We warmly welcome each of you and thank all committees for the work that they do. 

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LIANZA regional communities

LIANZA Hikuwai
Stacey Smith (chair)
Savitri Lakhan (treasurer)

Shirley Reyno
Sabine Weber-Beard
Anahera Morehu

LIANZA Te Whakakitenga aa Kaimai
Mohan Lal (chair)
Danielle Small (treasurer)
Heather Furniss (secretary)

Nicole Thorburn
Lynsey Moore
Su Bradburn
Kim Heke 
Sharon Cornwell (new)

LIANZA Ikaroa
Mojgan Sadighi (chair)
Joanne O'Connor (treasurer)

Robyn Wilson
Laura Clifford (new)
Lea Simon (new)
Susanna Elliffe (new)
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LIANZA Te Upoko te Ika a Maui
Jennifer Klarwill (chair)
Kareen Carter (Secretary)
Judith Porter (treasurer)

Heather McCaskill
Natalie Smith
Ivy Guo                       
Brigid Brammer

​LIANZA Aoraki
Alice Cruickshank (chair)
Jennifer Share (treasurer)
Ngaio Hughley-Cockerell (Secretary)

Daphne Smithers
Ky McWilliam
Donna McMillan
Sarah McCallum (new)
Mat Logan (new)
Amy Chiles (new)
Saskia Hill (new)
Simon Hall (new)

LIANZA Murihiku
Mark Hughes (chair)
Jacinta Beckwith (treasurer)

Olga Hemmingsen
Philip van Zilj
Eryn Makinson
Jackie McMillan

LIANZA special interest communities

LIANZA RES-SIG

Brenda Norton (chair)
Jo Simons (treasurer)
Rosemary O'Donoghue (new)
Rob Cruickshank (new)
Abigail Tarbotton (new)
Rohini Biradavolu (new)
Maja Krtalic (new)
Amy Jacob
Amanda Cossham
 
LIANZA SLIS
Jo Rusk
(co-chair)
Jennifer Klarwill (co-chair)
Rebecca Anwyll
Martin Lewis
Deborah O'Conoor
Gunilla Jensen

LIANZA Health SIG
Peter Murgatroyd (convenor)
Paula Broekhuizen (treasurer)
Sally Simpson (secretary)

Janet Arnet
Angela Broring
Megan Clark
Kareen Carter (IFLA rep)
Maryann Cowgill
Merrin Brewster
Stephnie Bacon (new)
Barry O'Callaghan (new)
Julie Milne (new)
Gemma Siemensma (ALIA HLA ex-officio rep)

LIANZA PIMN SIG
Asilika Aholelei (chair)
Eirenei Taua’i (treasurer)
Richard Misilei
Sana Saleem
Umumaluolelagi Judy McFall-McCaffery                   

LIANZA TEL SIG
Natalie Smith (convenor)
Mojgan Sadighi
Ivy Guo
Farasat Ullah
Shiobhan Smith (new)
Neda Zdravkovic (new)
Glen Shadbolt (new)
Diana McMahon-Reid (new)            


Look out for events organised by these LIANZA communities in the months to come. Read more about LIANZA communities here https://lianza.org.nz/lianza-communities/.
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Evaluation and Impact: Demonstrating the Values of Libraries

5/7/2021

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Throughout the year LIANZA has been able to offer the library sector an opportunity to gain confidence and capability in evaluation research and telling the story of New Zealand libraries. We were delight to be able to offer this opportunity, and we wouldn't be able to without the support of the NZ Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP).
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Evaluation and Impact participants have been engaged in workshops and learning opportunities through a community of practice since September, 2020. Recently participants had the opportunity to attend an online conference, Demonstrating the Value of Libraries hosted by the Public Libraries Western Australia. 

Some of the participants shared their learnings with LIANZA, and we wanted to share them with you!
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Helen Westwick | Research and Evaluation Specialist
Mental Health Foundation, NZ


Some questions to ask yourself - does the data you collect reflect the value your services add to the organisation or community? And also look at evaluation from multi-stakeholder perspectives and ‘ask what do they need to know’ about your service?

Libraries are traditionally very good at measuring things and processes, but not so effective at evaluating the impact of their work. The “more is better” approach is no longer enough, and librarians have to get more sophisticated. For example – think about the concepts of provision and use, and that it is possible to have good provision but very low engagement (use). 
Jo Cocker | Advisor
Community Empowerment Unit | Connected Communities 
Auckland


We need a community engagement framework for all NZ libraries with evaluation and impact embedded into it. This would build a more strategic approach to supporting the development of sustainable communities and create a shared understanding of the role libraries play in it. It would also help libraries better align with other council and government departments to achieve positive community impact and systemic change.

The need for stronger collaborative working with NGOS, Local Government and National Government departments, and the social sector to actively reach and engage with the hard to reach in our communities- people who are socially isolated, disengaged, marginalised etc and help support them to reconnect and participate in community and society by building a relationship with their communities through libraries - a gateway if you like working in partnership. This is where I think internal partnership working within councils and with external stakeholders works best - takes the pressure of libraries to be the sole provider of the solution/program/service but instead a partner - our skills lie in our ability to connect people to information and knowledge - broker connection whether it be a book, a person, a piece of technology, a workshop, a talk, a presentation, a network, group and so forth. Eloquently illustrated through one of the presentations which describes the 21st Century library as - the “ ‘nexus‘ of people, place, knowledge and technology to create platforms for learning, participation, creativity , innovation and wellbeing”
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Jeanne Clifton, RLIANZA | Librarian
Auckland


Libraries change lives!

Speaker R. David Lankes has written this article -  Expect More: Demanding Better Libraries for Today’s complex World and a quote from that: “ Why is it that while folks love the idea of libraries and librarians, they are quick to limit them to books or children, or simply think of them as historical holdovers? The answer is not that these people are wrong, but that they need to expect more. Too many libraries are about books. Too many librarians are reliving history and are stuck in a sort of professional conservatism that favours what they do over why they do it”

While I feel definitely that we are moving away from this in New Zealand it is sometimes this attitude that makes us reluctant to really look at what we do in our libraries and wary of evaluation.
Zayna Hussein | Senior Librarian Children and Youth Services  |  Pakuranga

Start small and make it meaningful for data collection and evaluation. People are more likely to participate if they can see what impact the data is having

Public libraries have come a long way in how they demonstrate their value. Historically we counted things (memberships, visits, book issues etc) which was ok, then we moved to counting things per capita which gave a better indication of value. Now we are trying to define what outcomes public libraries have for the visitors around learning, creativity and wellbeing and communities. Our next step is to find better ways to measure these outcomes.
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Annalese Weber | Librarian
Hamilton


This one is not necessarily a new idea, but I really liked the way it was framed which made it concise and easy to understand - that when we are measuring and reporting on our libraries’ activities, we tend to report on the outputs instead of the outcomes. The outcomes we want for our community are not actually “borrowed a lot of books” or “used XYZ service” – those are just the means to an end.  There can be outcomes we don’t see or consider – for example, a Wriggle & Rhyme programme may have an economic outcome for a local café because all the mums might go and get coffee together afterwards. 

That “How satisfied were you?” is a useless survey question, as you can’t make any useful decisions based on the answers. It’s better to ask something less vague about an intended outcome. 

That as well as to the general population and decision-makers, it’s also important to communicate the value of libraries to library staff. For example, the Libraries Change Lives campaign would have influenced some of the libraries’ COVID response by motivating staff and convincing them of key role they play in their communities. 
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​Debbie Williams | Library Experience Representative
Central Hawkes Bay


My biggest take-away was about the importance of allies –stakeholders who themselves may not have used the libraries or our associated services since they were a child can listen to US tell them the stories of how we are making a difference, but it actually has a much greater impact if you can get your community members to share their own stories of how the libraries have made a difference in their lives. 

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Heather Furniss | Library Team Leader
Matamata-Piako


Tell stories: advocacy of public libraries is most effective when you can tie what libraries do into the story of how it has helped someone in their life.  Everyday people and celebrity champions with a story of how a public library has helped them is just as important as facts and statistics when convincing those who hold the purse strings to invest in public libraries.
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