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Strategic Thinking & Next-Generation Metrics

30/9/2019

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​LIANZA's recent professional development workshops held in Wellington  by Dr Matt Finch and Brendan Fitzgerald: 
GLAM Futures and Foresight – Better Strategic Thinking for Cultural Institutions and
​The "So What?" of Libraries – Developing Next-Generation Measures, Metrics, Impact, and Evaluation, were attended by over 100 participants combined over the day. 

Matt and Brendan shared practical tools for strategic planning using potential scenarios and reflective thinking.

One participant said: 
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​​The tools from the strategic session were the most immediately useful to me – I liked how they broke a large process down into smaller steps from which concrete directions came organically and iteratively. I also liked the argument that while evidence-based research is good, there is no evidence from the future, and the stress on the fact that there is more than one possible future.

It was good to have people from outside your immediate context test your assumption, and to do the same for others... I made a coffee date with someone who is already a second-degree connection in my network who I have been meaning to connect more closely with (bonus: they're from a different GLAM field to me, so that was a plus for LIANZA making it open to multiple sectors).
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Matt is a skilled facilitator who knows when to push the room on and when to let the participants spend extra time on an exercise that is clearly beneficial. He knows how to read the room and respond, he’s flexible. Brendan is the quiet, behind the scenes, Alfred to Matt’s Batman.

The team generously shared their toolkit of reflective exercises and explained their workings so participants could make the most of them. There were plenty of opportunities for collaboration and peer learning. Lots of great ideas and Aha! moments were shared along with frustrations and challenges. A noticeable buzz filled the room with eye-opening insights abounding and participants left with plenty of ideas to implement in their workplaces, many vowed to keep in contact with new connections made over the day.

Matt reminded the room that discussions are the only way to really gather useful data. “Make your measurements work for you – own them,” says Matt. “If you don’t play a part in deciding on the metric someone else will do it for you and they might not be useful at all.”
Matt has given us tools to deflect harebrained ideas for unusable metrics and urged us to try and get involved with council planning as early as possible. "Planning and measurement inform each other – what gets measured gets managed," says Matt.
Further reading: 
Strategic Reframing: The Oxford Scenario Planning Approach by Rafael Ramírez and Angela Wilkinson
The value of everything: making and taking in the global economy by Mariana Mazzucato
Public Value: How can it be measured, managed and grown? Nesta (PDF)
The Mission of the Librarian by José Ortega y Gasset, James Lewis and Ray Carpenter
Scenario planning in public libraries: a discussion by Matt Finch and Rafael Ramirez
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Helen Zwartz scholarship 2020

25/9/2019

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The National Librarian and Te Puna Foundation announced today that applications for the 2020 Helen Zwartz scholarship are now being requested.
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Helen Zwartz
​Helen Zwartz brought to her library work a strong sense of social responsibility and service to the users of the libraries she worked in. During her career, Helen had the opportunity to spend time at the National Library of New Zealand, to further her professional development. She greatly benefited from the experience and in her memory, Helen’s husband David Zwartz, has funded this scholarship, to give other librarians the same professional opportunities that Helen enjoyed.
The Helen Zwartz Scholarship provides $3,000 funding to enable a librarian or staff member working in a public library serving one of New Zealand’s smaller communities, to undertake an internship at the National Library of New Zealand.
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The internship gives the recipient of the Helen Zwartz Scholarship the opportunity to experience working at the National Library and receive mentoring from National Library staff.

The programme is tailored to the recipient’s professional development requirements and can either be of a general nature, covering the range of work carried out at the library or focused on an area of interest to the recipient such as cataloguing, digitisation, conservation, digital preservation, literacy promotion.
  
Please visit https://natlib.govt.nz/about-us/scholarships-and-awards/helen-zwartz-scholarship for more about Helen and to read the criteria and download the application form.
​Sandra Haigh, recipient of Helen Zwartz Scholarship 2019, says:
“I was the fortunate recipient of the Helen Zwartz Scholarship in 2019, which enabled me to work alongside professional staff from the National Library of New Zealand (NLNZ), the Alexander Turnbull Library (ATL) and Archives New Zealand (ArchivesNZ), and learn from them over a period of three weeks, starting on Monday 29th April and finishing on Friday 17th May 2019.
During this time I was able to engage with most of the teams who work to deliver the many services which are managed by NLNZ. I also spent a day at ArchivesNZ which was both enlightening and enjoyable. I have had a little time to process the wonderful wealth of new learnings and ideas since I have returned to my workplace, and for me there are three broad themes which they fall under; best practice tools, relationships, and fragmentation v collaboration. I expect to continue to find new connections and ideas which I can use to enrich our community heritage as I continue in my role”
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WILD Imaginings Children’s Writers’ and Illustrators’ Hui

19/9/2019

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Register now for the WILD Imaginings Children’s Writers’ and Illustrators’ Hui!
 
WILD Imaginings promises a scintillating programme delivered by some of the country’s most celebrated children’s book creators and influential industry professionals. 
​Check out the WILD Imaginings programme here:https://tinyurl.com/yxdbasv8

Discounted early bird registration is now open for this national hui, which takes place in Dunedin on the weekend of 8-10 November, in association with Storylines.

Enjoy an invigorating weekend immersed in the world of children’s books, in the heart of New Zealand’s UNESCO City of Literature!
Register for WILD Imaginings: https://tinyurl.com/y3pmyes8

Follow the WILD Imaginings Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wildimaginings2019/
 
Read more about the hui at:
https://hail.to/dunedin-public-libraries/publication/eKPYDjC/article/53fWEh7
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VOLUME MAPUA LITERARY FESTIVAL BENEFITS COMMUNITY LIBRARY

18/9/2019

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Some of New Zealand’s best and most interesting writers will be appearing at the VOLUME MAPUA LITERARY FESTIVAL, to be held from 20—22 September. 

LIANZA is thrilled to note that Mapua Community Library will directly benefit from the festival.
Organised by VOLUME, the 2018 New Zealand Bookshop of the Year, the festival will enable attendees to hear from authors whose books they have enjoyed and discover authors whose books they will go on to enjoy. The intimate scale of the festival will also enable readers to meet and talk with authors and other literary enthusiasts. 
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“The VOLUME Mapua Literary Festival will emphasise the same qualities that we emphasise in our bookshop,” says Thomas Koed, co-owner of VOLUME with Stella Chrysostomou. “The festival will be small but of a very high quality. The speakers will be so interesting that we imagine attendees will want to attend all sessions.”
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 A percentage of all ticket sales will benefit the Mapua Community Library, who have held literary fundraising events in previous years. The Library are organising a quiz evening and a schools’ programme as part of this year’s festival. 
 "There is a natural synergy between bookshops and libraries in fostering reading in the community. VOLUME is very pleased to be donating a portion of ticket sales to support a library that serves its community well and would not exist without donations. We are grateful for the library's practical assistance and support" says Thomas.
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Mapua Library volunters
Mapua Community Library are an entirely volunteer run facility funded by grants, donations and fund-raising events. The library was started in 1943 by Mary Robb who had a vision of books being locally available for borrowing.
 
Around 2000, the Moutere Hills RSA very generously offered to share the site on the corner of Toru Street and Aranui Road. Significant fund raising ensued and with financial help from the New Zealand Lottery Board and Canterbury Charitable Trust, the construction of a permanent, purpose-built shared facility was launched. In 2002, with much excitement and ceremony the doors were opened by "National Treasure" Margaret Mahy.
Writers attending the festival this year include Lloyd Jones, Ashleigh Young, Carl Shuker, Paula Morris, Annette Lees, Gregory O’Brien, Jenny Bornholdt, Thomasin Sleigh, Lynn Jenner and Eirlys Hunter. 
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Mapua is a delightful coastal settlement with a village feel, half an hour’s drive from Nelson. It is well provided with cafés and restaurants and accommodation, making it perfect for a literary weekend getaway. 
 
The full programme for the VOLUME MAPUA LITERARY FESTIVAL is available on-line at www.volume.nz, or from VOLUME, and libraries and bookshops around the country. 
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The Reconfiguration and Automation of the Ōamaru Public Library

16/9/2019

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Philip van Zijl, Library Manager. Photo: Daniel Birchfield
Philip van Zijl explains in this post the process of reconfiguring, automating and generally optimizing Ōamaru Public Library ​“On the smell of an oily rag and a can-do philosophy.” 

​Philip, who has experience with reconfiguring libraries, discusses in-depth the process of changing the Ōamaru Public Library to what it is today.

​Background
​Ōamaru, Waitaki district, is a small coastal town on the South Island of New Zealand, with a population of about 14,000, and a district population of about 21,000. There are five branch libraries, mostly run by volunteers and supported by the main library in Ōamaru. We serve the needs of a growing population of senior citizens, young parents, youth, tourists and a wide diversity of multi-cultural groups. This includes the highest population of Pasifika—indigenous peoples of the Pacific Islands—per capita in NZ.
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Libraries must respond to the evolving expectations of customers. It became obvious that the layout, staffing structure and facilities of the 40 year old Ōamaru Library were no longer fit for purpose.
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The Shift
The major shift in focus came as a response to the changing roles that Libraries have to play in supporting their communities.  Many patrons are disadvantaged when needing to access government services on-line because of a lack of digital devices and/or competencies. The library needed to:
  • Provide access to Wi-Fi and the internet
  • Provide access to suitable hardware
  • Educate customers to use technology (both their own devices and library resources)
  • Educate customers to access online information (particularly Government websites and applications)
  • Engagement with customers
A Library business case was unanimously approved by Council. This was dependent on an agreement, to have zero impact on the Library’s budget. This business case addressed evolving needs of the public and proposed a refit of the Library and introduction of RFID technology.  This was achieved by taking out a loan from Council and repaying it out of recurrent budget savings, over 10 years.  The budget approved was US$102,000 and we still have US$12,000 for RFID at the branches.  All the furniture, fittings, upholstery, signage, renovations, consultation fees, and RFID equipment, were included in this budget.

The Libraries Manager attended an Alan Bundy Library Design conference in Sydney, where Rachel van Riel presented a paper and hosted a post-conference workshop. Her retail and customer centred design philosophy fitted with the needs of Ōamaru and underpinned the planning process of the changes.

The Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa invited Rachel to run a workshop in Dunedin which most of the staff attended.  Library staff also attended a change management workshop to equip them with a better understanding of the theory behind the shift in customer service and acceptance of the proposed solution. Input from staff throughout the planning process was encouraged.
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Refurbishment/RFID
The 18 months planning process included staffing restructuring, working with the union. All position descriptions were adjusted to align with the proposed changes in service.  All vacancies were initially filled with temporary appointments to mitigate redundancies.  These were inevitable as at least 40% of staff time was spend on conventional circulation desk duties.

Although restricted by the small existing building footprint, it was decided to:
  • Develop multi-use, flexible spaces to cater for different types of library activities and uses – e.g. helping people with technology, hosting community events
  • Put ‘like with like’, to avoid possible conflict between uses and users (e.g. keep quiet activities together in one area)
  • Incorporate a retail-based layout to:
  • Make it easier for people to find what they’re looking for (including books)
  • Create more social spaces and address ‘the Library as a social hub’ concept.
Some shelves were fitted with wheels to allow flexibility for events. Permanent projection facilities were installed in the Children’s area, to further support community events and educational activities. The manager’s office was converted into a small community space featuring a smart television, laptops and tablets, with available staff to support. Now it is being used for staff training and demonstrations and teaching the public, for community organisations to hold meetings, and for people to study or read quietly.  Other major changes included new carpeting, decorating, improved signage, resulting in a brighter and lighter atmosphere. Where possible, furniture was refurbished or sourced second hand.
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Layouts
The community space that has exceeded expectations with constant uptake from businesses and community groups. With the creation of separate areas, different user groups can be catered for. Children are accommodated in one corner and in the opposite corner we have a youth area. Tourist visitors face the front windows, where there is an ample provision of USB ports, charging stations and comfortable furniture, away from quiet reading areas.
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A different layout for the non-fiction section created lounges like “living rooms” which have comfortable, colourful furniture that are organised into areas of interest.  The layout features more books facing out, similar to displays found at book retailers. These spaces also allow for more private or small group options.

The layout changes were achieved during a period of closure of three weeks with Library staff, volunteers, Information Technology staff, Property staff, Design Federation staff as well as contractors all working together to meet the deadline.
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Implementation
We allowed for at least 12 months of consolidation after the introduction of RFID and the refurbishment before further initiatives were introduced.  The positive feedback from a Library survey and the constant positive comments from the public, and an external Review of the Library, further reinforced that we were on the right track.  The reciprocal benefits of the philosophy of customer engagement instead of a transactional relationship, has been embraced by staff, leaving them energized and motivated.  The fact that there were no staff losses due to the introduction of automation, was a major contributing factor.

​Staff have more time for community outreach and to work with the Branch libraries, schools and other organisations.  Branch equity is now being addressed.  This includes building and RFID expansion, collection development and volunteer training.  Other initiatives being developed include seniors’ outreach, community outreach, re-establishing of the Friends of the Library and staff training in digital literacy as a precursor to public digital literacy support.

Improved Customer Service has been our major goal and the library has indeed become the public face of the Council.  We might have an outdated building footprint, without all of the ‘frills,’ but we are proud of all that was achieved on the smell of an oily rag and a ‘can do’ philosophy.  My contention has always been that Libraries are not just about the bricks and mortar, but about the staff.  To quote a Māori proverb “He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!” It’s all about the people!

This blog post was reproduced with permission from the author and originally appeared on Princh.com.
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​Recent Reviews and Submissions – Update

6/9/2019

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​Earlier this year LIANZA made submissions to both the Copyright Issues Paper and the Health and Disability System Review. We have now received updates on both reviews, which we share below.
Copyright Issues Paper
MBE received 148 submissions on the Copyright Issues Paper and have now published submissions on their ‘have your say’ page. You can read a summary of submissions on the same page. The summary focuses most on what emerged as the main themes from submissions, in terms of strengths and issues with the current copyright system.

For the rest of the year, MBE will focus on using the information they have available to develop advice for the Minister of Commerce and Consumers Affairs on objectives for copyright, issues with the current system and its strengths. There will be extensive consultation at the next stage of the review, where they explore possible options for reform.

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Health and Disability System Review
The Interim Report of the Health and Disability System Review is now available.

This interim report does not provide final recommendations.  It is a progress report reflecting back what was heard during Phase One, providing analysis of submissions and evidence the Review has gathered, and indicating the directions of change the Panel believes are needed.  During the next few months the Panel will continue to refine these directions, and engage further with stakeholders, so that specific recommendations can be finalised by March 2020.

There is also an executive overview online which gives a brief executive summary along with a compilation of the directions for change, and the next steps for the Review.

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What an amazing time you can have at an international library congress or... Yay! I made it to #WLIC2019 in beautiful Athena, Greece.

5/9/2019

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Sabine and Lis in Athens
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Sabine in transit
The best thing I ever did was applying for a free grant to attend the Kuala Lumpur Congress and then getting it. This shows that anything is possible.

Going to Greece for WLIC2019 was a decision I made soon after I was back from Kuala Lumpur – I was the 33rd person registering.

Getting selected to be part of an international IFLA committee made this trip then even more exciting and again shows that anything is possible. Becoming part of these projects is just amazing and is not something I thought was possible for me while working in the Far North District libraries.

But there I was in a wonderful city with rich history and more than 3000 other librarians from over 100 different countries. I spent my time attending meetings, listening to speakers, voting for an award winner, participating in workshops, checking out the poster sessions, talking to vendors.

Some highlights for me were the opening session and listening to the IFLA President, the President-elect session and the different IFLA information sessions. Catching up with old friends and making new ones was just magical.

It was a great opportunity to be a face for WLIC2022 in Auckland and tell everyone about the amazing librarians we have and how wonderful it will be to come visit us. The message I gave everyone was to drink one cup of coffee less every day and start a kiwi travel piggy bank.
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Some years ago I thought IFLA was only for other people but I now know that that is not correct. To be involved in an international scene is just the most amazing and important thing ever. The IFLA messages are global messages and make it easy to work and communicate with people from all over the world.
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I am so looking forward to 2022, so start that coffee piggy bank so I can meet you all at our IFL WLIC in Auckland!

Sabine Weber-Beard
Senior Librarian - Kaeo & Systems Librarian
Far North District Libraries
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Reviews of the #NZCYA Books Awards Shortlist - Picture Books

5/9/2019

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Curious to know more about the books that were shortlisted for the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults? There is a wealth of good reading out there!
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Read these reviews from the Picture Book Category submitted to the inaugural LIANZA Book Review Competition and pick up a copy from your local library...
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​Category Review Winner:

Things in the Sea are Touching Me
Written by Linda Jane Keegan and illustrated by Minky Stapleton
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This rhyming picture book for young children, 3-7, confronts a fear that faces many when at the beach: 'Something in the sea is touching me!'

For this young child, Ma is not just a calming influence but also takes the opportunity to inform:
They drift through the water
and feed like a filter.
No need to let them
put you all off-kilter.
A crab, salps, a mangrove seed and kelp are encountered in turn until:
'I splashed and I paddled
found courage within,
ignoring when stuff touched
on elbow or shin.'

But next it is Ma shrieking in fear and the youngster's turn to laugh, explain and console. Yes, a fun day at the beach for 'Mum, Ma and me.'

Minky Stapleton incorporates the text into her illustrations with large white letters on a black background for the shrieks. This contrasts well with the soft water colours of most pages. Another interesting technique is the juxtaposition of distance and close-up views on opposing pages. For example the crab appears small beside their feet, but is large and more detailed on the facing page.

With both English and Maori versions available, this is a book for all Kiwi kids. Author Linda Jane Keegan handles this nuclear family with a difference as a normal situation which, increasingly, it is. Well done.

Reviewed by Chris Wright (Bookrapt)

Judges comments: We particularly appreciated the insightful analysis of typographical and illustrative techniques used in the book.

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Mini Whinny: Happy Birthday to Me
Written by Stacy Gregg and illustrated by Ruth Paul​

This is a story about the importance of friendship and sharing, and the fun of togetherness.

It's nearly August 1, birthday time for all horses, so up go the decorations in the stable as excitement mounts. 

But Mini Whinny wants her own party, not a shared one with all the other horses. Even the wisdom of Berenice her friend the cat cannot calm her. While the other horses sleep in their stalls, Mini Whinny wreaks havoc by dragging all the preparations into her stall for her very own party – but it's just not the same: 

She passed-the-parcel.
But there was nobody to pass it to.
There was no one to light the candles on the cake.
And no one to cheer when she blew them out.

In her softly coloured illustrations Ruth Paul has captured the personalities of the various animals as well as the changing moods of young Mini Whinny with her increasing confusion and disillusionment. When the friendly Palomino finds her, sad and alone, her quick-thinking plan leads to everyone having a happy time together. Even Mini Whinny acknowledges her selfishness with a few tears when the others present her with a new rosette.
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Stacy Gregg is a prolific writer of stories about horses, up till now for slightly older readers. This is her first picture book and her first New Zealand publication. I'm guessing this might not be the last we read of young Mini Whinny!

Reviewed by Chris Wright (Bookrapt). 

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LIBRARIAN CRISSI BLAIR WINS 2019 STORYLINES BETTY GILDERDALE AWARD

3/9/2019

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LIANZA is thrilled that Auckland Librarian, children’s book authority, reviewer, judge and graphic artist Crissi Blair is the 2019 winner of the Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award for an outstanding contribution to New Zealand children’s books, publishing and literacy.

Crissi has been a prominent national figure in the world of children’s literature for nearly 20 years. 
​Crissi has written for the New Zealand Book Council’s e-newsletter The School Library, and for the Australian review magazine Magpies, for which she is now New Zealand coordinator. Her own sought-after publication New Zealand Children’s Books in Print ran from 2005 to 2013.

​She was a member of the 2018 judging panel for the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, and in 2019 was convenor of these awards. 
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A long-time supporter of the Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust, she was for three years Manager of its Storylines Festival Family Days held annually in major centres. Crissi holds a Bachelor in Design and Visual Arts, with a specialist interest in picture book illustration. She has recently finished studying for library qualifications while working as a librarian at Rangeview Intermediate School in Auckland.

"We were absolutely delighted to confirm Crissi as the 2019 Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award winner,” says Storylines Trust chair Christine Young. “Her multifaceted involvement in the New Zealand children’s literature community, including many years on the Storylines management committee, and her ongoing dedication to promoting New Zealand books and reading, and engaging young people with New Zealand literature, meant that the decision to acknowledge Crissi with this award was unanimous.”

The Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award honours the former academic, author and reviewer Betty Gilderdale and has been given since 1990 to mark an exceptional commitment to the world of children’s books and awarded to a diverse range of authors, librarians, publishers, agents, booksellers, academics and teachers. Previous winners include Dorothy Butler, Elsie Locke, Ray Richards, Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira and Trevor Agnew. 

A presentation to Crissi will be held by the Storylines Trust in Auckland in early November.
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​Judges Announced for 2020 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards

2/9/2019

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Award-winning writers and poets, former publishers, academics, long-standing booksellers and a well-known journalist are among the 12 people selected to judge the 2020 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.
 
LIANZA is thrilled that Hocken Librarian Sharon Dell is on the panel judging the General Non-Fiction Award.
 
Sharon says:
“I am particularly appreciative of being asked to help with judging because librarians have a useful perspective to bring. Not only do we see the research process in action and have an idea of how thoroughly  authors are looking at sources but we also have an inside view of the reaction to new publications. Our readers often let us know what they think of the books they are reading – whether fiction or non-fiction – so we have a sense of their impact. In a research library like Hocken we are also quickly aware of those books that really are contributing to new knowledge and are helping new generations gain a better understanding of the world we live in.
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It will be an interesting few months ahead!”

LIANZA looks forward to hearing about the 2020 long list next year.

You can read more about the full list of judges here >
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