School library collection recovery initiative

Severe weather events 2023

Three severe weather events experienced in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty and Tararua in early 2023 were unprecedented. They caused loss and trauma to people, households and communities, and billions of dollars of damage.

Collaborative initiative to support school library services

The Government has provided $1 million for the School Library Collection Recovery initiative, a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and National Library of New Zealand to support the recovery of school library services in affected regions.

The initiative provides replacement of school library collection items, related resources, and library shelving to schools and kura kaupapa Māori where insurance is unable to fund replacement in as-new condition.

Working with affected schools and kura

The National Library’s Services to Schools is working with affected schools and kura to identify and support the selection of new, high-quality library books and classroom books that reflect current curriculum and literacy needs. Suppliers are being procured and managed by the National Library, with the Ministry of Education funded to pay for the books purchased.

Schools needing assistance will also be offered advice and support from the National Library to help re-establish school library services and are being offered additional loans from the National Library’s school lending service.

School libraries are important for building knowledge, skills, cultural capability and belonging for young people in educational settings. This helps enhance their individual and collective wellbeing and supporting positive literacy and learning outcomes.

Thirty schools benefiting from initiative

Over thirty schools and kura kaupapa Māori in the following regions are benefiting from this initiative: Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Gisborne, Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay, and Wairarapa.

While the National Library and the Ministry of Education will make decisions on expenditure, books will be purchased in conjunction with input from teachers and librarians from the schools to help meet the diverse needs and interests of learners within each school community.

This initiative complements community responses such as the ‘Books Back Better’ project which is fundraising to distribute book tokens to affected schools, kura, kohanga reo and kindergartens.

Books Back Better

Contact us

If you have any questions email us at schoollibraryadvice@dia.govt.nz.