Louise Dowdell (Ngāti Maniapoto) Staff Development Advisor - Te Reo and Tikanga at Wellington City Libraries
March 2022
Louise Dowdell
|
Tell us a little bit about the job. Where is it? What does it entail?
The Staff Development Advisor Te Reo and Tikanga is a fixed-term position at Wellington City Libraries and is part of the New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP). My role is to create a development framework which will empower library staff to build practical capabilities in te reo Māori along with an increased understanding of te ao Māori. It will also support opportunities to develop and increase the profile of te reo and te ao Māori throughout our work culture, organisational practices, and services. This will involve collaboration with our staff, mana whenua, and our wider community. We are lucky to have Wellington City Council's Te Tauihu strategy supporting this mahi as we aspire to make Wellington a bilingual city by 2040. This position reflects comittment to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and acknowledges the the importance of te reo, tikanga, and te ao Māori within Aotearoa. Why did this role interest you? I have always tried to incorporate te reo and tikanga into all my work - this is something I am passionate about. I also love libraries and all the different ways they provide learning and recreation to our communities. Combining these two passions is wonderful! This role is a very exciting opportunity for Wellington City Libraries as we strengthen our commitment to te ao Māori both purposefully and practically. |
It will also support us to engage with Māori in an increased and more meaningful way. Equitable access to information is another of my passions and libraries can often be alienating places for Māori. Libraries and communities have so many resources and knowledge we can all share and true partnership will create more opportunities to do this. I feel very lucky to be involved in such an important and positive project.
What exciting projects will you be working on within your role?
I am very excited about developing a framework to increase staff understanding of te ao Māori. Once we understand values such as whanaungatanga and manaakitanga it is much easier to incorporate them into our daily practices in a meaningful and sustainable way.
What do you hope to achieve in this role?
By the start of 2023 I hope to have delivered a framework that will empower our staff and continue to grow our excellent customer service through the development of te reo skills and an improved understanding of te ao Māori.
What does a fun working day in your new role include?
Talking to lots of different people - staff, stake holders, patrons - and hearing their whakaaro. There is so much positivity in Wellington City and a genuine commitment to te ao Māori. This heartens me.
What advice do you have for someone aiming to progress their career in libraries?
I will always be grateful for my first job in libraries at the University of Auckland Library. It felt like I had found a home amongst knowledge and people who were curious about everything just like me. Being a librarian has taken me around the world and I love the empowerment that we give our patrons through knowledge and community. I would say to people at the start of their careers to take every opportunity that comes your way - don't be afraid to take a chance on something new. As part of this, embrace te reo and te ao Māori and learn how it can enrich you both personally and in your work. Being a librarian is one of the most rewarding professions you can have and it has sustained me over thirty years. I couldn't be happier with my career.
What exciting projects will you be working on within your role?
I am very excited about developing a framework to increase staff understanding of te ao Māori. Once we understand values such as whanaungatanga and manaakitanga it is much easier to incorporate them into our daily practices in a meaningful and sustainable way.
What do you hope to achieve in this role?
By the start of 2023 I hope to have delivered a framework that will empower our staff and continue to grow our excellent customer service through the development of te reo skills and an improved understanding of te ao Māori.
What does a fun working day in your new role include?
Talking to lots of different people - staff, stake holders, patrons - and hearing their whakaaro. There is so much positivity in Wellington City and a genuine commitment to te ao Māori. This heartens me.
What advice do you have for someone aiming to progress their career in libraries?
I will always be grateful for my first job in libraries at the University of Auckland Library. It felt like I had found a home amongst knowledge and people who were curious about everything just like me. Being a librarian has taken me around the world and I love the empowerment that we give our patrons through knowledge and community. I would say to people at the start of their careers to take every opportunity that comes your way - don't be afraid to take a chance on something new. As part of this, embrace te reo and te ao Māori and learn how it can enrich you both personally and in your work. Being a librarian is one of the most rewarding professions you can have and it has sustained me over thirty years. I couldn't be happier with my career.