FROM THE PRESIDENT

NĀ TE TUMUAKI

I write this column buoyed by the news that the New Zealand government has just announced a significant support package for the library sector – 58.8 million dollars to help keep librarians in jobs and supporting the communities they serve. This is a huge opportunity for the library sector to work together to determine how we ensure this support has the biggest positive impact it can. The National Library of New Zealand will be developing a libraries partnership programme to co-ordinate the support package implementation and LIANZA will have a vital role to play in bringing the sector view to that work.

Twelve months ago, in June 2019, LIANZA and the National Library signed a relationship agreement that committed the parties to working together to develop sector capability and workforce planning – with this new government funding that agreement to work together will be more important than ever and we will need your help.

It will be important for the library sector to focus on developing the skills and capabilities we need for the future. It may be hard to predict exactly what that future will hold but it will be a future that will see big changes both for us and our communities as we adapt to working in increasingly digital ways. We need to continue to develop our digital skills and continue to work to remove barriers to accessing information – for example, through national licencing, digitising New Zealand content and increasing digital literacy skills. Aotearoa New Zealand is small enough for us to work together to develop national strategies for building collections and providing the best access we can for our communities.

This is an exciting time to step up and become involved with your professional association. I’m looking forward to working with our three new councillors Kristen Clothier (LIANZA Ikaroa) Alex Bassett (LIANZA Otago Southland) and Melanie Chivers (LIANZA Te Whakakitenga aa Kaimai). And a special welcome to our new President-elect Erica Rankin. I know all of them will bring energy and enthusiasm to their roles and I hope they find their time on LIANZA Council as rewarding as I have.

It was an emotional moment stepping into the LIANZA President’s role in July last year especially when the beautiful pounamu was passed onto me by the previous president, Paula Eskett. The wairua and responsibility that comes with the taonga and the role has substance and weight. I was grateful for the support of the council and the office team in helping me get up to speed with what being president of LIANZA was all about. I was expecting the twelve months ahead of me to be largely focused on preparation for Aotearoa New Zealand to host the World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) in Auckland 2022. I was looking forward to the LIANZA conference to be held in Manukau and I thought I would be spending some time attending and contributing to LIANZA events around the country.

Only one of those three things happened - the conference. It just goes to show we really don’t know what is ahead of us. The New Zealand International Convention Centre fire meant that we couldn’t guarantee a venue for WLIC in 2022 and the lockdown response to COVID-19 has unfortunately meant cancelling many LIANZA

regional events that I was planning to attend. Cancelling in-person events hasn’t stopped LIANZA from providing networking and advocacy, I have been so proud of the way we have adapted to hosting online forums and discussions and I’m currently attending the LIANZA Lead Coach Connect series on leading and connecting in a virtual world.

Although it has been an extremely tough few months for libraries; for Aotearoa; and for the world, if we remember that #WEARELIANZA – together we can change our world for the better.

Rachel Esson President