A new specialised storage facility in Levin will help to meet the growing needs of the National Library of New Zealand, Archives New Zealand and Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.

The Department of Internal Affairs has purchased land for the new repository, which will provide more space for the growing holdings and collections of these three institutions.

“The purpose-built facility will provide the level of protection and care our documentary heritage needs. The development will also provide employment opportunities for the local construction workforce,” says the Department’s Deputy Chief Executive and Tāhuhu Programme Executive, Peter Murray. 

The construction of the new repository is subject to further funding decisions; however, design work will commence immediately, and the building is scheduled for completion in 2025. 

The new facility will hold low-use documentary heritage, including collection items that have been digitised and are accessible online, it also covers audio-visual material, government records, books, microfilm, films and much more.
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The repository will provide specialised lighting, temperature and humidity control storage space, and security and protection from risks such as water damage, fire, earthquakes and pests.

“This documentary heritage and taonga are treasured possessions of the nation and represent a unique and authoritative source of our history,” says Peter Murray. 

This storage facility is part of Tāhuhu: Preserving the Nation’s Memory – a larger programme of work that also includes a new Wellington Archives building which will be connected by an airbridge to the National Library to enable co-location and greater collaboration between the National Library, Archives and Ngā Taonga. 

An esteemed academic, a noted author, an experienced bookseller, a school librarian and a public librarian, as well as three respected proponents of te reo and te ao Māori, have been selected to judge entries in the 2021 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. 

​​Palmerston North school librarian Alan Dingley, who was also a judge in the 2020 awards, will convene the English language panel. He will be joined by senior lecturer in Children’s Literature at the University of Waikato, Nicola Daly; award-winning author and educationalist, Pauline (Vaeluaga) Smith; longtime children’s bookseller, Mary Sangster; and public librarian, composer and performer, Stephen Clothier. 

Anahera points to the upcoming International Decade of Indigenous Languages (from 2022) and the increasing number of books being published in te reo as an opportune environment in which to participate in the awards. “The future looks exciting for literacy and for encouraging reading in te reo Māori,” she says.
 
The judges will read and appraise an expected 160 or so entries in six categories: Picture Book, Junior Fiction (the Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award), Young Adult Fiction, Non-Fiction (the Elsie Locke Award), Illustration (the Russell Clark Award) and te reo Māori (the Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award). They will select up to five finalists in each category, as well as up to five finalists for a Best First Book Award, and then a winner in each category. The overall winner, the Margaret Mahy Award for Book of the Year, will be decided from the six main category winners.
 
Submissions for the 2021 awards are now open to books published between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. The first deadline, for books published up to 30 November 2020, is Tuesday 15 December 2020. More details about how to enter can be found here: http://www.nzbookawards.nz/new-zealand-book-awards-for-children-and-young-adults/how-to-enter/
 
Category finalists will be announced on 10 June 2021 and the awards ceremony is due to be held in Wellington on 11 August 2021, preceded by a programme of finalist author events under the Books Alive banner.
 
The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults are made possible through the generosity, commitment and vision of funders and sponsors Creative New Zealand, HELL Pizza, Wright Family Foundation, LIANZA, Wellington City Council and Nielsen Book.
 
For more information about the 2021 judges, see below or go here: http://www.nzbookawards.nz/new-zealand-book-awards-for-children-and-young-adults/2021-awards/judges/
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Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa National Library of New Zealand and our partners are calling for nominations for Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador for children and young people.

Te Awhi Rito Reading Ambassador is a new role that will support and champion the importance of reading in the lives of young New Zealanders, their whānau and communities.

 “We’re looking for the right person to inspire, empower and mobilise powerful, positive reading experiences for children, young people, whānau, and communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.” says Kate De Goldi, chair of Te Puna Foundation.

As a national reading role model, the Reading Ambassador will increase the visibility and awareness of reading across all sectors, helping to create a nation of readers. They will make connections between the many organisations involved in reading, literacy, literature and the wellbeing of young people.

The Reading Ambassador will also build the appreciation and growth of stories and literature that reflect Aotearoa New Zealand, including increased creation of and access to reading resources in Te Reo Māori and the diverse languages and cultures of Aotearoa.

For more information about the role of Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Ambassador and how to submit a nomination online, follow this link.

Nominations close on Friday 22 January 2021.
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The National Library of New Zealand leads the initiative, Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Ambassador in partnership with Te Puna Foundation, Read New Zealand Te Pou Muramura, Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa and Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki o Aotearoa.

Some of our favourite Books Alive events include: 
Michael Petherick starring in a dramatised #Tumeke; Toby Morris and Janet Hunt doing a skills swap; Gavin Bishop and Kimberly Andrews talking illustration; Ruth Paul giving a drawing lesson and Selina Tusitala Marsh talking about her prize-winning book Mophead!

​As one of our participating authors said, ​​

We are thrilled to announce our keynote speakers for this symposium.

• Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles, University of Auckland. Dr Wiles is a microbiologist who heads up the Bioluminescent Superbugs lab at the University of Auckland. She is passionate about demystifying science and collaborates with artists and animators. During COVID-19 Siouxsie joined forces with The Spinoff cartoonist Toby Morris to make the science of the pandemic clear and understandable. 
• Toby Morris is an Auckland based illustrator, comic artist and writer. He is the creative director of the Spinoff and author of the non-fiction comic series The Side Eye. In 2020 he began a collaboration with Dr Siouxsie Wiles communicating scientific ideas around the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Professor Lisa Emerson, Massey University is an award-winning tertiary teacher and an experienced lead researcher in the area of information and academic literacies. Lisa is leading a three-year TLRI project which researches information literacy and the library in senior secondary and tertiary teaching.

These amazing keynotes will join our great presenters from the library and information sector to make this a symposium you won’t want to miss.

Go to the symposium website to register now. We look forward to seeing you f2f Thursday 3 – Friday 4 February in Wellington.

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