LIANZA Profile

Beginnings

LIANZA is a body corporate created by the New Zealand Library Association Act 1939. The legal title of the association is the New Zealand Library Association (Incorporated) (NZLA) which began in 1910 and has since played a large role in the development of library and information services around the country. The organisation's history is colourful and we have undergone three transformations in our evolution and development.

From 1910-1935, LIANZA's precursor, the New Zealand Library Association, was an association of public libraries, plus the present Parliamentary Library and Victoria University libraries, with no individual members. Major change took place in the mid-to-late 1930s, thanks to the catalyst of a cash and expertise injection from the Carnegie Foundation of the USA, who were internationally promoting the benefits of a public and research library infrastructure. This led to the establishment of the public and branch library network throughout the country as we know it today, and to the New Zealand Library Association adopting a new constitution. From being an association of libraries, it became a mixed organisation of both individual and institutional members promoting library use and practices. For a period from 1935 every librarian in the country was a member of  our association.

The second phase lasted from 1935-1990. During this period the Government introduced the NZ Library Association Act in 1939, establishing our Association as a body corporate with the benefits of an incorporated society. The Library School (now the Masters of Librarian & Information Studies Degree programme at Victoria University of Wellington) was established in 1946 and the National Library of NZ was established in 1965. During this period individual librarian professionals flocked to join the association, establishing the multitude of sectoral, regional and special interest groups under the Association's banner that continue to today.

The third transformation, from a mixed organisation to today's professional organisation of librarian and information professionals, took place in 1990. The catalyst was the growing sentiment of librarians for an organisation focused on their professional needs and development. The Association set up a Futures Group to review its structure, membership, rules and focus. Their review resulted in the NZ Library Association changing its name to LIANZA, our current organisation structure as a professional organisation and the end of institutional representation in the governance of the association.

LIANZA is one of the older professional organisations in New Zealand and for more indepth information about the history of LIANZA see New Zealand Library Association 1910-1960 by W J McEldowney (1962) and the Jubilee issue of New Zealand Libraries from October 1970.

Into the future...

Today LIANZA has never been financially stronger or in better heart. Virtually every public and tertiary library, without exception, is a member, and LIANZA reaches deeply into every other library sector including private, business, health & medical, law, central government, school and theological libraries and their professional staff. Our current strategic focus is to deepen our role as the professional organisation. We have established a Taskforce of the leading sectoral leaders within the industry to investigate the registration of New Zealand librarians and other information professionals and the associated accreditation of their training and professional practice; and make recommendations suitable for the New Zealand environment.

Over 75% of our current members, who include librarian professionals, assistant librarians and supporters have a tertiary degree and over 56% have two or more tertiary degrees.
The LIANZA website contains information about Associates, Current Fellows and Past Presidents of our organisation.

As a professional organisation, we are looking to play a far greater role in the future on behalf of the profession in continuing professional development and has gone out to the industry for guidance and mandate through the Professional Registration Taskforce. Other key initiatives linked around this are the first full Remuneration Survey of the industry, and a Survey of Professional Needs.

In the 21st Century Knowledge Economy we believe, as an Association, we are well placed, and our members have a key and pivotal contribution to play to boosting our cultural, social and economic life.