Strategic partnership grants — New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme

Supporting the library through COVID

Early engagement and planning with the Library sector highlighted workforce, funding, and service challenges, already faced by the sector, being made worse by the pandemic.

Concern from library sector partners about the impact of COVID-19 on the sustainability of the wider sector led the programme to support the upskilling, recovery, and rebuilding of the sector through strategic partnership grants.

Strategic partnership grants programme

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Jan Tinetti announced the New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP) strategic partnership grants in mid-2021. The non-contestable grants were a way to broaden the library sector’s involvement in helping support librarians and library services to be retained in New Zealand libraries to support community recovery.

Through the New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP), the National Library invited nine organisations to submit grant proposals. These organisations were:

• Library and Information Association New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA)

• Te Rōpū Whakahau

• Public Libraries of New Zealand (PLNZ)

• School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (SLANZA)

• Council of New Zealand University Librarians (CONZUL)

• Auckland Libraries

• Te Puna Foundation

• Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ),

• and Taituarā.

The proposals were reviewed by members of the Library and Information Advisory Commission (LIAC), who are appointed by the Minister of Internal Affairs to provide her with advice on library and information issues, including mātauranga Māori.

Successful strategic partnership grants

Eleven strategic partnership grants were awarded, totalling $5.024 million. Sector organisations were encouraged to partner with others and seven of the successful projects are collaborations. Project partners include Te Takarangi; New Zealand Book Awards Trust; Tohatoha; National Library’s Services to Schools; and the University of Canterbury.

In the final weeks of the Programme, the original strategic partnership grants were revisited with the goal of further supporting the sustainability of the sector. As a result, $0.810 million of Programme funding was reprioritised as strategic partnership grant top-ups to support the sustainability of the library sector further.

Mātauranga Māori Professional Development, delivered by Te Rōpū Whakahau

This project enables mātauranga Māori professional development through a two-day interactive workshop for information professionals. The workshop is structured on the understanding of mātauranga Māori exists in the wider context of tikanga and Te Reo Māori and the content is underpinned by a kaupapa Māori philosophy where traditional Māori values and practices are applied in context.

Workshops were delivered in Whangārei, Rotorua, Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Ōtautahi (Christchurch), Bay of Plenty.

Initial funding of $200,000 with a top-up of $50,000 to enable additional face-to-face workshops.

Te Rōpū Whakahau — New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme opportunities

Te Takarangi ki te Ao, delivered by Te Rōpū Whakahau

This project supports expanding knowledge and appreciation for Māori scholarship, mātauranga and academic excellence through resource kits and exhibitions. Design work for the project has been completed, the first gifting of books at inaugural kupu has been made, a successful travelling exhibit has been launched, and books have been chosen for reprint.

Initial funding of $500,000 with a top-up of $50,000 for re-publishing out-of-print Māori books to give to libraries.

Books Alive, delivered by LIANZA

This project delivered a highly successful series of online events to support the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults — Books Alive, These events showcased the expertise of librarians around the motu.

Funding of $76,000.

NZCYA Books Alive 2022 in conjunction with Lianza

Kahui Ako | Communities of Learning, delivered by SLANZA

This project is a Kahui Ako | Communities of Learning and School Libraries Collaboration Pilot Programme. Two school librarians were bought onto a Kahui Ako | Communities of Learning. Te Oko Horoi website is live, and it was gifted to the Kahui Ako of Te Oko Horoi. Waimea Kahui Ako has started its website with a focus on students.

Funding of $48,000.

Kāhui Ako | Communities of Learning

Many Answers, delivered by SLANZA

This project is a pilot programme of school librarians collaborating with the Many Answers service. Two school librarians are making entries introducing students to local information sources, explaining how to access them, developing information literacy skills, supporting them to think critically about the past. Entries are published on the Any Questions website

Funding of $200,000.

Any Questions

A Bit Sus, delivered by SLANZA

This is a misinformation education project taught to school librarians for delivery to students. A successful pilot was completed with positive feedback.

Initial funding of $150,000 with a top-up of $80,000 for adjustments to the course taken from the pilot learnings and for 15-20 new librarians to complete the new course.

Tohatoha ramps up counter-misinformation training

Libraries Advisor, delivered by Local Government NZ

This project employs a full-time ‘Libraries Advisor for 2 years. The advisor is in place and working well.

Initial funding of $450,000 with a top-up of $112,500 for an additional 6 months of the role. This is seen an important role for the sector given local government reforms, with the benefit of being complementary to Whiria te Tāngata.

Co-Cre8, delivered by PLNZ and Taituarā

This project drives a coordinated approach to national data collection that is sharable and reusable by others within the public library sector. Resources such as webinars, a reporting template and Library of Best Practice informed by multiple surveys have been delivered. The final report and data have been released and are available.

Initial funding of $550,000 with a top-up of $168,000 for an additional Ask the Expert series, additional extension to the Data Dashboards based on additional LibPas data and extension of regional face-to-face training sessions.

Taituarā

Tertiary Grants, delivered by SLANZA and LIANZA

This project is strengthening the library and information workforce with tertiary grants.

These grants provide people working in, or new to the library and information sector, with funding towards the costs of a library and information sector qualification.

Grants of up to $10,000 per year are available.

Grant funding for library and information qualifications

Pūtoi Rito Community of Readers Phase 2, delivered by Te Puna Foundation

This project supports Pūtoi Rito Communities of Readers Phase 2. Partnership projects have been established in Dunedin and Canterbury with book distribution. The project is also providing support for isolated and high-needs whānau.

Initial funding of $850,000 with a top-up of $115,000 to extend the research and develop resources and tools that can be applied in support of sector sustainability.

Pūtoi Rito Communities of Readers

He Kupenga Horopounamu, delivered by CONZUL and Auckland City Libraries

This project is a programme of work to change libraries’ practice and service design to achieve better outcomes for Māori Communities. The project is still active and they are working towards a final report.

Initial funding of $500,000 with a top-up of $125,000 to expand the community engagement programme, expand the depth of the evaluation, and increase staff capability building.