Our conference debate was the late night ‘bright idea’ dreamed up by Anahera Morehu, LIANZA Immediate Past President and Ana Pickering, LIANZA Executive Director, as they began their tour of Murihiku, last spring.

As they popped in and out of wonderful libraries around the region, meeting committed library staff they wondered if it was true that 21^st century libraries no longer need qualified librarians? What better way to put this idea to the test than to ask some amazing people from across the library sector to form teams and have a debate?

The debate will be adjudicated by our very own MC Michèle A’Court

Debate Resolution: Qualified librarians are no longer needed in 21st century libraries

Opposing team

• Jennifer Campbell Meier or Anne Goulding – Victoria University of Wellington
• Richy Misilei - Auckland Libraries
• Carla Jeffrey - Massey University

Affirmative team

• Gabrielle Hikaka - Te Puni Kōkiri
• Philip Miles - Auckland Libraries
• Anahera Morehu - University of Auckland.

We are thrilled to have people from different parts of the sector and two men on the teams!
The debate will all be a bit ‘tongue in cheek’ and mischievous, with serious undertones.
If we have to move to a virtual conference, the debate will be live, online on Wed Nov 10, 10.30-11.30am.

We hope you can join us and help decided which is the ‘winning team’ !