LIANZA

Kia Ora Kotou Katoa

Recently we have had a number of inquiries about what LIANZA is doing as an organisation in the advocacy space.

First, what do I mean by advocacy? Today’s libraries are consistently being challenged to do more with less – less money, less staff and less time. Advocacy is about making sure that libraries are valued, supported and connected to their stakeholders and communities because libraries can be taken for granted.

ALIA is using ALA and IFLA’s “@ your library ® ”campaign. Their website says “the aim of the campaign is to promote the value of libraries and librarians and to showcase the unique and vital roles played by public, school academic and special libraries.”

So what is LIANZA doing?

Earlier this year Hikuwai region undertook some work to identify what other associations are doing in the area of advocacy. Also to identify what LIANZA could do to leverage off what is out there, to develop our own expertise and to increase the effectiveness of advocacy activity. This paper is now available on the LIANZA website here. There is a link to IFLA’s learning platform where a free online course is offered: Module 5: Libraries on the agenda http://learning.ifla.org

LIANZA has been working on the “Libraries count” project, jointly funded with the National Library of New Zealand, which tells the stories of different parts of the NZ library and information world with some statistical analysis. These stories will form part of the LIANZA Advocacy Tools portal which will be launched in October 2011. We want the portal to encompass advocacy tools that can be used to show that "Libraries count". It will have a variety of resources for members to use eg presentation tools - statistics, PowerPoint templates, word templates and images – and in time media releases, more key information/resources/statements on why libraries are important, copies of submissions from LIANZA, papers detailing LIANZA's stance on topical issues, people's stories of why libraries matter and a guide to lobbying.  

The portal will provide an opportunity for the timely release of stories in time for the General Election. Plus questions for political parties and prospective Members of Parliament on what they think about libraries. 

Additional resources will be added as they are developed or shared by members.

In 2012 Maree is organising advocacy seminars throughout NZ led by Sue
McKerracher from ALIA.

My thanks to Megan Button and Drycrust Communications for their work in putting the advocacy portal together. Watch the website under “resources”. I think it is a really useful initiative.

Ka kite ano
Jane Hill
President

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