The National Library of New Zealandis leading and supporting COVID-19 recovery work across New Zealand’s library system, especially in public libraries, with a government funding package of $58.8 million, over two to four years.
The New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP) will support librarians and library services to be retained in New Zealand libraries and assist them to support community recovery.
The New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP) will support librarians and library services to be retained in New Zealand libraries and assist them to support community recovery.
NZLPP programme initiatives
The NZLPP includes support for the following initiatives;
Funding is also provided to increase the Public Lending Right Scheme funding in recognition of New Zealand authors’ books being available for use in libraries.
The NZLPP is progressing well, and the establishment team have provided an update on how the programme is progressing.
The NZLPP includes support for the following initiatives;
- Funded secondments at public libraries to provide librarian jobs and upskill librarians to support community recovery.
- Training, coaching and mentoring of librarians.
- Provision for free public internet to be available through all public libraries.
- Relief for New Zealand libraries by the waiver of user charges and procurement costs for collaborative library services.
- An uplift in specialist library services for schools and young people with the greatest need.
Funding is also provided to increase the Public Lending Right Scheme funding in recognition of New Zealand authors’ books being available for use in libraries.
The NZLPP is progressing well, and the establishment team have provided an update on how the programme is progressing.
| NZLPP steering group Rachel Esson, Director Content Services, has assumed the critical role of chair of the NZLPP steering group. The purpose of the steering group is to champion the programme, provide guidance, direction and support during the programmes. Invitations to join the steering group were sent last week, with the aim of having the first steering group meeting mid-late September. NZLPP team Lewis Brown, Director Office of the National Librarian, has been seconded into the role of NZLPP Programme Director. He will take on a number of responsibilities, one of which being the point of contact for the libraries sector and other organisations. |  Rachel Esson, chair of the NZLPP steering group |
 Helen Gray (L) & Krista de Guzman (R) NZLPP team | The programme has welcomed Helen Gray as Programme Establishment Manager who is responsible for establishing programme governance, on-boarding the delivery team and managing the planning and implementation of key programme milestones. Krista de Guzman has also come on board to support as Programme Coordinator. Her role is to support the wider programme by responding to the NZLPP inbox, coordinating governance meetings and supporting the programme leadership as needed. Secondment programme Expressions of Interest for public library secondments have been received from 57 local councils to date and agreements for a total of 37 secondments were issued on August 31 to the following fifteen councils: |
Buller District Council, Central Hawkes Bay District Council, Christchurch City Council, Clutha District Council, Gore District Council, Hutt City Council, Masterton District Council, Opotiki District Council, New Plymouth District Council, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Rotorua District Council, Selwyn District Council, Timaru District Council, Upper Hutt City Council, Waimakariri District Council.
Agreements for another 35 councils are expected to be issued shortly. The team will be contacting other councils to clarify some information before issuing agreements.
Agreements for another 35 councils are expected to be issued shortly. The team will be contacting other councils to clarify some information before issuing agreements.
Fee waiver
In addition, libraries have now received $9.224 million in fee waivers and relief from procurement costs for libraries covering the next two years. The NZLPP have committed a further $0.316 million to enhance the availability of electronic resources over the next two years. All public libraries will receive the popular PressReader e-resource providing users with up-to-date full online access to most New Zealand regional and metropolitan newspapers as well as to international newspapers and magazines. The programme will also provide all libraries with electronic access to popular full-text magazines, reference books and other highly-regarded sources. Access to eBook and eAudio collections is being extended to 100,000 school students, including those with print disabilities, at a cost of $0.300 million over the next two years. The previous service was available to just over 10,000 students.
A further offer through the fee waiver part of the programme has just been released last week. Between September 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022:
In addition, libraries have now received $9.224 million in fee waivers and relief from procurement costs for libraries covering the next two years. The NZLPP have committed a further $0.316 million to enhance the availability of electronic resources over the next two years. All public libraries will receive the popular PressReader e-resource providing users with up-to-date full online access to most New Zealand regional and metropolitan newspapers as well as to international newspapers and magazines. The programme will also provide all libraries with electronic access to popular full-text magazines, reference books and other highly-regarded sources. Access to eBook and eAudio collections is being extended to 100,000 school students, including those with print disabilities, at a cost of $0.300 million over the next two years. The previous service was available to just over 10,000 students.
A further offer through the fee waiver part of the programme has just been released last week. Between September 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022:
- All New Zealand Libraries (excluding the state sector organisations listed on the NLNZ website) can provide their users with access to the ‘EPIC EBSCO National Package’ – including Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre Plus and MasterFILE Complete
- All New Zealand public libraries can provide their members with access to PressReader
| Lewis Brown says: The NZLPP is complex because the Budget 2020 bid had to be developed under the usual rules of confidentiality; only after the announcement could we engage with the library sector to agree the priorities and principles for an equitable programme of work. While public libraries will receive the major benefit from the Budget announcement the initiative was not only for public libraries. The announcement of the funding had to be followed by discussion with the wider sector to ensure that this public money would be spent effectively and equitably across the areas outlined in the initiative. It includes a strong evaluation focus to demonstrate the value and impact libraries have in the community as well as informing future policy decisions. |  Lewis Brown, NZLPP Programme Director. Photo credit NLNZ |
I have diverted a team of staff from other work to manage this complex new programme of support for libraries. They have been fully committed to providing support for public libraries as fast as we can while fulfilling our responsibilities as stewards on behalf of the New Zealand Government. We are updating our webpage on a regular basis. I would encourage you to take a look at our webpage for further information.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can check out the Libraries Partnership Programme webpage here or the NZLPP team can be contacted on LibrariesPartner@dia.govt.nz.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can check out the Libraries Partnership Programme webpage here or the NZLPP team can be contacted on LibrariesPartner@dia.govt.nz.
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