Blog Posts - Libraries Aotearoa

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

4/9/2019

Sabine and Lis in Athens

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.

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.

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

Reviews of the #NZCYA Books Awards Shortlist - Picture Books

4/9/2019

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!

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...

Category Review Winner:

Things in the Sea are Touching Me
Written by Linda Jane Keegan and illustrated by Minky Stapleton

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.

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.

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).

LIBRARIAN CRISSI BLAIR WINS 2019 STORYLINES BETTY GILDERDALE AWARD

2/9/2019

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.

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.

Judges Announced for 2020 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards

1/9/2019

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.

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 >

Reviews of the #NZCYA Books Awards Shortlist - YA

27/8/2019

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!

Read these reviews from the Young Adult Category submitted to the inaugural LIANZA Book Review Competition and pick up a copy from your local library...

The Rift by Rachael Craw

YA Category Review Winner:

The Rift is a YA fantasy book about zombie space dogs called Rift Hounds who cross the Rift when the moon is full. Rangers who live on Black Water Island protect the magical and majestic Old Herd from the Rift Hounds, and use telepathy to communicate with the deer. Meg and Cal are broody, courageous and witty protagonists.

The world is well constructed, and conjures beautiful imagery of New Zealand-esque scenery - with thermal pools and a rugged, harsh landscape. The fantasy-side of the story takes a little to get your head around, but it does not make it any less mind-blowing. As I read the book, I was transported to the island and I could clearly see everything in my mind. It takes a great wordsmith to bring a world to life, and Rachael does this so well.

The Reviewer: Amy Chiles is a librarian at the brand-new Christchurch Central Library – Tūranga. In her spare time she enjoys sewing and crochet and has fun finding hilarious picture books to read her 5-year old daughter.

Rachael Craw’s The Rift is a story about connectedness. Its two main characters are thematic foils: Meg Archer grew up among the Rangers but has been away from Black Water Island for many years, while outsider Cal West has never felt accepted on Black Water Island despite his Ranger gifting. The mythology-inspired fantasy element of magical deer and mutant space hounds intervenes at key points to drive character change, but Meg and Cal’s journey to find their place in the world plays out most clearly in their developing relationship with each other. The story wraps up by the last page but the remaining mysteries of the fantasy world leave space for future adventures beyond the Rift. Young adult romance/adventure set against the backdrop of a darkly fantastical world.

The Reviewer: Matthew Sampson is a Selwyn librarian, reader, writer and story theorist and leads the local children’s book club. He peruses the fantasy and science fiction shelves in every age category at his local library.

Judges comments: This review by Matthew Sampson is our pick for category winner for YA fiction. He is impressively concise, yet manages to convey all the main points of what is clearly a complex story. His review compels you to go find the title and start reading it immediately! We appreciate a review that comments on themes and structure as well as the plot. The last sentence is a helpful shelf talk.

Invisibly Breathing by Eileen Merriman

In Eileen Merriman’s third Young Adult novel, Bailey Hunter has just moved to Wellington from Auckland, an awkward sexual encounter in his wake. His caravan in the driveway is his escape from his four siblings and his alcoholic and abusive father.

Felix likes numbers, Green Day, and the new kid. His parents have separated and his mum has a new boyfriend, which he is less than impressed about.

They gravitate to one other, and a sweet but intense and necessarily secretive romance ensues. Their home lives, however, threaten to interfere; Bailey’s in particular, and a high-energy, suspenseful denouement kept me turning the pages right to the end.

I really enjoyed the two main characters; their quirks (a stutter, an obsession with numbers) made them human and interesting without being too odd, especially Felix, who could easily have become a nerd stereotype.
Highly recommended.

The Reviewer: Brooke Mellsop is a Senior Library Assistant at Westland District Library. She says: I enjoy Earl Grey tea, Jane Austen, and cryptic crosswords, and will reliably round up anyone in the vicinity in the event of a Trivia Night!

Dazzling Displays Wow Judges

27/8/2019

We challenged you to create a display of the NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults finalists in your library and enter our Best Library Display competition. We wanted to see how creative you could get with your library displays.

The judges loved all these colourful, and sometimes zany, creations!

Helsinki celebrates ‘Best public library’ award for Central Library Oodi

27/8/2019

Although we had our fingers crossed for Tūranga we extend warm congratulations to Helsinki's Oodi library.

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions IFLA nominated library Oodi as the ‘Public Library of the Year’ at the #WLIC19 Athens conference last night. The City of Helsinki is extremely proud for the achievement and recognises the participatory design process as one of the major reasons for the success.

Oodi was designed together with customers for a long period of time. We received more than 2,000 ideas from customers to serve as the basis of the architectural competition. ALA Architects designed an amazing and unique building that takes all the elements most desired by customers into account. The customers immediately made Oodi their own, which is our greatest success. The Public Library of the Year award tells us that the world has also taken notice of this, says Anna-Maria Soininvaara, Director of Library Oodi.

The annually presented Public Library of the Year award is presented to a public library that is either newly built or set up in premises not previously used for library purposes. This year, a total of 16 libraries from all over the world applied to be considered for this award. The prize was granted in the 85th World Library and Information Congress of IFLA in Athens, Greece. The conference took place from August 24 to August 30, 2019

Oodi is a public space in the heart of Helsinki
Helsinki Central Library Oodi is a living meeting place at ‘Kansalaistori square’ - the square of citizens - right at the heart of Helsinki. It is also the flagship of Finnish public libraries.

The Library Oodi opened in December 2018 and had a great success in terms of the amount of visitors. After six months from opening, Oodi has already had over two million visitors.

Oodi offers wide range of library services: a collection of 100,000 books, newspapers and magazines and family library services. The new digital and workshop services include for example 3D-printers, laser cutters and label printers as well as music studios and film editing equipment. There is also a cinema, information service of the city of Helsinki and EU, as well as rooms dedicated for studying and working.

Oodi complements the cultural and media hub formed by Helsinki Music Centre, Finlandia Hall, Sanoma editorial house and the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma. Oodi is a non-commercial, urban public space that is open to all, right opposite the Parliament Building.

The project for building the central library was part of the celebrations of 100 years of independence in Finland.

Helsinki has an excellent network of libraries
Helsinki City Library has 37 branch libraries all over the city. Residents are also served by two library buses, which tour the parts of Helsinki with no library branch of their own. Helsinki City Library also maintains 10 institutional libraries and a home service for those who cannot reach a library by their own means.

The Helsinki city libraries form part of the Helmet network - the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Libraries - which also consists of the neighbouring city libraries of Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen. Helmet libraries’ customers can use all the services of all Helmet libraries.

The libraries offer also wide digital services of electronic library that has 24/7 services. The Helmet e-library is one of the largest e-libraries in the Nordic countries. Library patrons have access to thousands of electronic books, journals and magazines as well as music, databases and online courses free of charge.

Finland is the most literate country in the world
The Finnish library system has strongly supported the education system providing access to information and literature. Finland has been among the top ten countries of the worldwide OECD study ‘Program for International Student Assessment’ (PISA) many times. In the study year 2016, Finland was also the most literate country in the world.

Conference Highlights for Tertiary Librarians

27/8/2019

LIANZA Conference is for all our members, whether you are a Public Librarian, a Special Librarian, in academia or schools. There is something for everyone. This week we are highlighting papers of particular interest to Academic Librarians. Of course, our excellent Keynote Speakers will be of interest but what else? Read on...

There are so many great talks and workshops it can be hard to know where to start planning!
We asked the new LIANZA TEL-SIG co-coordinators, Natalie Smith and Marisa King, for their top picks from the programme.
They say "These are our combined top picks for academic librarians:

Holistic approaches to the reference interview
Customer service training - going beyond role play!
Poster (4) Connect, collaborate and cultivate: an example of community collaboration
What are research-librarian skills and how do we get them?
It’s party time! Social research consultations for postgraduates
Traditional metrics, altmetrics and researcher profiles: faculty perceptions and use
Navigating teaching from face-to-face to online library tutorials"

Read on for more programme highlights for academic librarians:

50a. Institutional repository and gold open access: unexpected synergy? Kin Lok Rocky Mak Run Run Shaw Library, City University of Hong Kong.
Audience: Academic librarians
Keywords: open access, institutional repositories, scholarly communication

50 b. What are research-librarian skills and how do we get them? Jo Simons, Libraries and Learning Services, University of Auckland.
Audience: Academic librarians
Keywords: academic libraries, research support skills, qualifications, staff training

50 c. It’s party time! Social research consultations for postgraduates Ceire Hopley, Waiopehu College.
Audience: Academic librarians
Keywords: academic, research support, innovative offerings, relationships, subject

52.Traditional metrics, altmetrics, and researcher profiles: faculty perceptions and use Anne Ferrier-Watson, University of Waikato.
Audience: Academic librarians
Keywords: traditional metrics, altmetrics, researcher profiles, research impact, visibility

55. 'Help, I'm unpublished!' Nicola Frean, Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.
Audience: Special librarians (GLAM, law, health etc) Academic librarians
Keywords: archives, manuscripts, academic librarians, school librarians, public librarians

56a. Customer service training - going beyond role play! Kim Clayton, Victoria University of Wellington.
Audience: Academic librarians
Keywords: customer service education, academic, public libraries, staff training

57. Navigating teaching from face-to-face to online library tutorials Anne Macaskill and Anais Saysell, Victoria University of Wellington
Audience: Academic librarians
Keywords: tertiary libraries, subject librarian, information literacy, online learning

60. Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa Jacinta Beckwith, Hocken Collections, University of Otago and Riki-Lee Saua, University of Auckland.
Audience: Academic librarians
Keywords: Māori, indigenous, whanaungatanga, relationships, manaakitanga, unity, international networks

Download the full conference programme here >

#WLIC2019 Livestream

22/8/2019

The IFLA World Library and Information Congress begins in Athens this Sunday August 25 and ends on Thursday August 29.
You can join the action in Athens and view some of IFLA’s most popular sessions.

The WLIC 2019 live stream offer will include:

Opening Session - Sunday 25 August from NZT 7:30–9:00 pm
IFLA Highlights Session - Monday 26 August from NZT 5:30–6:30 pm
IFLA President’s Session - Monday 26 August from NZT 6:30–8:30 pm
From Vision to Implementation - IFLA’s Strategy Monday 26 August from NZT 8:45–9:45 pm
Legislators’ Panel - What Lawmakers Think about Libraries - Monday 26 August from NZT 10:45–11:45 pm
Strengthening the Global Voice - Securing the Future of Libraries - Monday 26 August from NZT 11:45 pm–12:45 am
Closing Session - Thursday 29 August from NZT 1:00–2:30 am

There will also be a selection of key sessions organised by IFLA’s Professional Units:

“Twenty Years of the IFLA Intellectual Freedom Statement: Constancy and Change”, by the IFLA Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) Advisory Committee - Sunday 25 August from NZT 10:45 pm–12:45 am
“Innovation in Changing Times” by the IFLA Latin America and the Caribbean Section - Tuesday 27 August from NZT 1:00 – 3:00 am
“Legal Implications of Disruptive Technologies in Libraries” organised by the IFLA Copyright and other Legal Matters (CLM) Advisory Committee - Thursday 29 August from NZT 5:30 – 7:30 pm
“Library Love Stories” co-organised by the IFLA New Professionals Special Interest Group (NPSIG) with the IFLA Management and Marketing Section (with ALIA President Robert Knight) - Thursday 29 August from NZT 7:45 – 9:45pm

If you are having troubles watching the live stream here, you can also access through this playlist in YouTube.

Recordings will be made available on the WLIC 2019 website and the YouTube channel by the end of each day.

Follow #WLIC2019 on social media and check the WLIC 2019 website for further live streaming announcements and details.

Conference Highlights for Special Librarians

20/8/2019

LIANZA Conference is for all our members, whether you are a Public Librarian, a Special Librarian, in academia or schools. There is something for everyone. This week we are highlighting papers of particular interest to Special Librarians. Of course, our excellent Keynote Speakers will be of interest but what else? Read on...

30. WORKSHOP Pacific engagement: catching the knowledge wave 10 years on.
Judy Taligalu McFall-McCaffery, University of Auckland; Maryanne Marsters, Hawkes Bay Regional Prison, Department of Corrections and John Mata'afa, Te Matariki Clendon Community Centre and Library, Ngā Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland Libraries
Audience: Special librarians (GLAM, law, health etc)
Keywords: Pacific engagement, diverse communities, practices, strategies, policies

31. PANEL Looking for that AHA moment.
Nina Whittaker Walsh Memorial Library, Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT)
Audience: Special librarians (GLAM, law, health etc)
Keywords: collaboration, community of practice, Auckland Heritage Archives

36. PAPER Health science libraries: the small libraries making a difference.
Barry O'Callaghan Southern DHB
Audience: Special librarians (GLAM, law, health etc)
Keywords: health science libraries, public libraries, community

39. PAPER Brokering, boundary-spanning, belonging: becoming embedded in a community of practice. Courtney Harper Counties Manukau Health Library
Audience: Special librarians (GLAM, law, health etc)
Keywords: community of practice, health, knowledge roles, influence

48. PAPER DigitalNZ on communicating copyright information and a user upload feature.
owan Payne National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa
Audience: Special librarians (GLAM, law, health etc)
Keywords: DigitalNZ, copyright, user generated content, search engine, metadata

55. PAPER 'Help, I'm unpublished!'
Nicola Frean Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa
Audience: Special librarians (GLAM, law, health etc)
Keywords: archives, manuscripts, academic librarians, school librarians, public librarians

58. WORKSHOP No (wo)man is an island: sole charge roles.
Michelle Goodall, Jasmax and Zoe Cornelius, Department of Corrections
Audience: Special librarians (GLAM, law, health etc)
Keywords: sole charge, discussion, cooperation, collaboration, versatility, skills

61. PAPER Linked data 101
Jonathan Hunt Catalyst IT
Audience: Special librarians (GLAM, law, health etc)
Keywords: linked data, semantic web, graphs

Download the full conference programme here >