​In response to the recent discussion on NZlibs, LIANZA has worked with Paddy Plunket and Rowena Cullen to send a letter to Minister David Clark and write a press release.

Here is the letter, and the media release was sent as below:

Information professionals want changes to the Data and Statistics Bill
Library and information professionals are calling on the government to make changes to the Data and Statistics Bill, currently with parliament.

“As information professionals we are interested in how information is gathered and used,” says Paddy Plunket, information specialist on behalf of LIANZA Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa. “This bill does not have enough checks and balances to reassure us that New Zealand’s data and statistics are sufficiently protected.”

LIANZA, Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa, is the Library and Information Association of New Zealand. We are the voice for professionals and institutions working across the whole library and information sector, representing 195 institutions and 1,125 library and information professionals.

LIANZA has called on Minister David Clark to amend the bill as it dangerously conflates two separate types of government data: official statistics, and unspecified data gathered as a result of government agency activity.
“Vesting oversight of access to this second category of data solely in the hands of the Government Statistician, or with any government official (or contractor) they delegate their powers to, without ethical oversight introduces considerable risk,” says Paddy Plunket.

LIANZA has asked the Minister to make the following revisions: Remove part 5 which creates the unsafe regime for accessing government data for ‘research’ purposes. And remove the powers to gather data for ‘research’ covered in Part 3 subpart 3.

This will provide a bill that updates the current regime for official statistics. Then work could begin on creating an exposure draft of a bill to govern the gathering and access of data for research purposes.

In 1976, in considering the Wanganui Computer Centre Bill, Parliament recognised the danger of intersecting data collections and required there to be a policy committee to provide oversight and governance of the computer centre. The committee was to consist of Government agency CEOs as well as external representation from the New Zealand Law Society and the New Zealand Computer Society.

“It appears that New Zealand has gone backwards in understanding and mitigating risks of access to this kind of data at a time when other governments have moved forward.”

LIANZA urges you to look to the Australian Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022 for an approach to data oversight. This Act creates a commission and advisory board to look at applications to use government data for research. We suggest that this could be an appropriate approach in New Zealand.

 

​"I love this photo (below) taken at IFLA in Athens (August 2019) at the Australian Embassy we are with the German Library Association president and Sabine was so enthusiastic talking to her about IFLA and promoting New Zealand for WLIC 2020. She really was the most energetic and positive person - fun, hardworking, and great to spend time with. A great advocate for Aotearoa and for libraries we will miss her enormously."

Rachel Esson, National Librarian Te Pouhuaki 

Things I adore about Bine:
 
a loving heart and gusto for life
fiercely protective, loyal and creative
always putting others first
gifts from Bine randomly turning up in the post
always with a just-perfect, thoughtful message
spookily just when you needed a reminder
that you are loved
an adventurous spirit
riding motorbikes - fast
loving her animals more than
many people
never ever suffering fools
forthright
original and alternative thinker
finally, a deep and abiding love for libraries
and many of the people she met
globally through her work – her community 
we love her back
 
Ngā manaakitanga 
Kim Tairi
 

​"Sabine and I were last able to meet in Athens, during WLIC 2018, where Sabine contributed actively and effectively to the work of our Professional Unit Library Services to Multi- cultural populations. Athens was busy and very hot yet Sabine was always cool, enthusiastic and extremely generous in sharing her knowledge and time. A dedicated, honest and caring soul. Sabine is deeply missed on both a personal and professional level. Thank you Sabine. "
 
Best wishes
Adjoa K. Boateng
IFLA PC Chair

​"I believe I met Sabine first on Twitter around 2009 or 2010 then in-person at the LIANZA conference 2011 in Wellington. She was a vibrant personality that shone brightly with enthusiasm and I was happy to be in the company of this hippy free spirited German woman. When a small handful of librarians on Twitter between NZ and Australia were pregnant around the same time in late 2011, someone (I think it may have been Penny Dugmore) suggested a secret stork project, posting a notsosecret personal gift to the expecting parent.
 
I received a number of memorable thoughtful gifts but the one that sticks out of course is what I received from Sabine.
 Sabine sent me a personally hand-made carved white bone necklace for my baby. She also posted two large banana boxes full of baby things: glass baby bottles, German-made onesies, cloth nappies; a bunch of baby things with German origin. She included a note saying that motherhood hadn't been in the cards for her, so she was gifting these boxes that had been in storage for years, on to me.
 
This act showed me how immensely thoughtful Sabine is and how unique that thoughtfulness truly is to her. 
 
A vibrant woman always remembered, and never forgotten. I will miss you Sabine."
​Hana Whaanga
 
------

"I can’t even remember when I first met Sabine – she seems to have been ever-present as a powerful, positive dynamo, from time immemorial.
I do remember seeking her out when my whānau and I were travelling in the Bay of Islands and Far North, in late 2020 – but I’m sure we’d met in person at various LIANZA Conferences or forums before then.  That time, Sabine made a special effort to come see me at Paihia, while I was lushing about in holiday mode.  We discussed our love of the world at large (and New Zealand’s Far North in particular), travelling, meeting people, animals, essential oils, creative pursuits, not to mention the state of the library sector, what drives us and how/where we wanted to make a difference. 
I was left, as seemed to be the case after any interaction with the beautiful Bine, feeling inspired and engaged. Sabine herself promptly set off to do two things – she took me for a tour of the jewel that is the Paihia Library and issued a swag of pony books in her name for my daughter to read while we stayed there (we’d ended up bereft of reading matter).  And she handcrafted two beautiful glass-fused necklaces for my daughter and me, made lovingly with our favourite colours.   
I, and many others, have been so inspired by Sabine’s courage and humility as she faced her indescribably tough journey over recent months.  And while her passing has left such a massive gap in our hearts and in our lives, the legacy she leaves us is timeless and will inspire and energise through the ages. 
Arohanui to her “rock” JB, her whānau and all her friends."
Kat Cuttriss
 

Sabine was a ray of sunshine within libraries Aotearoa, and increasingly internationally as well.  
 
We got to know each other at the inaugural LIANZA Kōtuku leadership course in 2016.  One of the outcomes of that course was a mentorship program, and thankfully a very wise person paired the two of us.  A mentor/mentee relationship can be a powerful thing for both individuals and their respective communities, especially when both parties want to do their very best for each other: “nau te rourou, naku te rourou, ka ora te manuhiri” (with your food basket, and my food basket, the people will thrive).  Sabine always gave so much to her communities and during this time I watched her learn, grow, and thrive.
 
The Sabine I knew was keen to improve herself and the places she worked, while also encouraging others to do the same — whether it was in the Far North District Council library network, or her contribution to various boards.  For example, she was a member of LIANZA Hikuwai Committee, a Regional Ambassador for the National Digital Forum in New Zealand, and in 2021 she was elected to the 20 member IFLA Regional Division Committee for Asia-Oceania (which I was very proud to nominate her for). 
 
Two weeks ago I attended the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Dublin and it was incredibly heart-warming to hear so much aroha for Sabine. It was clear that she was a great inspiration to many people, partly because of her strong belief in IFLA’s principles: developing library action plans and needs, and contributing to United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The widespread acknowledgment of her influence at this event is impressive, especially for someone whose first IFLA Congress was 2018 in Kuala Lumpur.  
  
Sabine and I shared a lot of fun across various social media channels including Instagram where she was a regular promoter of love, life, libraries, creativity, her rohe, and food. Reflecting back on some of her posts, I can see that being at opposite ends of the dietary spectrum often engendered many laughs between the two of us — she had a fantastic sense of humour. 😊
    
Over the years, Sabine developed the most delightful habit of referring to me as “dear Andy…”, which now brings tears to my eyes. Her ray of sunshine will forever shine in my heart.
 
Me te tino aroha me te whakaute.
  
Ngā mihi,
 
Andy Fenton

Reaching more readers is the driving force behind OverDrive and their library partners. In response to requests from industry leaders to leverage their digital collections to reach more readers, OverDrive is providing a variety of tools and services to help librarians provide “Access for All.”

“OverDrive is prioritising services for libraries to address community challenges including workforce development, health and wellness, legal aid and all literacy issues,” OverDrive Founder and CEO Steve Potash said. “Our goal is for public libraries to leverage their investment in their digital collections and materials to efficiently reach and engage underserved audiences.”

Providing “Access for All” means:

• Content access affordability: We offer libraries the ability to stretch their collection development further by offering flexible and extensive lending models. Librarians can maximize their budget by reaching more readers through OverDrive Max and other cost-effective access models offering flexible options.
• Students and children: Libraries continue to seek efficient solutions to reach and support the students and children in their service area. Public Library CONNECT enables students to safely access their local public library’s ebooks and audiobooks (in addition to their school’s) through the Sora student reading app. This service is now in 31,000 schools worldwide, allowing 18 million students secure access to their public library digital collections using their student credentials.
• Digital book clubs: To bring community together, digital book clubs are regularly hosted throughout public libraries with titles from regionally local authors in New Zealand and Australia. These offer not only access to titles but a shared reading experience for library communities.

• English language learners: Over the past three years, OverDrive has donated millions of books to thousands of libraries and schools worldwide. Based on the growing catalog of English language learning materials including Read-Alongs, audiobooks and Kanopy Kids videos, the company is working to assemble new curated and bundled options for those learning English.

• Accessibility needs: Improved Libby app features for those with visual impairment, dyslexia and other disabilities. These include screen reader support, customizable ebook reader display and adjustable text size.

• Diverse collections: Diversity Audits and OverDrive Marketplace curation tools can drive inclusive collections to support initiatives around diversity and building collections that support the local interests of patrons.

​







​Taking up the mantel as the new president of LIANZA from July 1 is Kim Taunga, Head of Community Delivery South at Auckland Council. From Kūki 'Āirani (the Cook Islands) Kim will be LIANZA’s first Pasifika president. A ceremony took place on 30 June to welcome Kim Taunga and new President-elect Richard Misilei at Auckland’s newest community facility, Te Paataka Koorero o Takaanini – Taakanini Community Hub, which opened in late March.

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

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

NEW APPOINTED MEMBER

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

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

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

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

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

​​STEPHEN PENNRUSCOE

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

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

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

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