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.