Newly appointed National Librarian, Rachel Esson, gave her first public talk in Palmerston North yesterday. We are delighted to share this transcript of her inspiring talk.
Rachel was welcomed by LIANZA President, Anahera Morehu, Te Rōpū Whakahau Tumuaki, Anahera Sadler, and past Te Rōpū Whakahau Tumuaki, Cellia Joe-Olsen.
Rachel began her talk by saying:
“It’s an absolute pleasure to be here this evening and as you may have picked up from my pepeha, the Manawatu and Papaioea – Palmerston North is somewhere that is very special to me. I spent a lot of my childhood here. My father was a scientist at the research station stations out here and his speciality was cicadas, which is why I had an image of one accompanying my pepeha.
This is my first official talk as National Librarian outside of the National Library and it feels very appropriate that it should be here.”
A transcript with accompanying slides follows:
In this picture you can see the previous National Librarian, Bill Macnaught with myself and the current LIANZA President, Anahera Morehu. This was taken at the LIANZA Conference in 2019. We are presenting Bill with his Fellowship. I love this photo because of the colour and the smiles but also, it is about acknowledging the contribution that the National Librarian makes both in their role to libraries in Aotearoa and their personal contribution to supporting professional associations, like LIANZA. (Applause)
Another photo acknowledging the past is this photo of me with my parents, it was taken when we were shifting to Nelson. Although I was born in Palmerston North we did move around a bit but we did keep coming back and that was there they ended up. We did just, at the end of last year, sell the family house they were in. So, it’s bitter-sweet being here in that regard. The caption for this photo reads something like “Jim and Angela Esson and little Rachel”. (Laughter)
[The caption from this Nelson April 1966 photo news issue reads “Jim and Angela Esson and little Rachel, have come to Nelson from Wellington. Jim is an entomologist with the D. S.I.R.”]
Role of the Pouhuaki – National Librarian
It is a real privilege to be in a role that has a unique title (Pouhuaki). This title came about through Kommiti Maori who have been an established group since 1989, providing advice and support to the National Librarian. The chair of the committee, Evelyn Tobin, was asked for feedback on the job description and from that sent through a suggestion for the title. It’s inspiring, it’s a privilege and it comes with significant expectations to be a mentor and a stalwart; to protect, preserve and share the nation’s memories for the people of Aotearoa and beyond. And I will do my utmost best to live up to that
Kōkiri, kōkiri, kōkiri!
Whakarongo ake au ki ngā reo o te motu
E karanga mai ana
Huakina mai ngā tatau o tō whare
Kia Mahi Tahi tātou, kia inu ai mātou
I Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa
The message from the people clearly asks us to open our doors so that we may work together and share the information held in Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa. The title is a unique and original compound word that illuminates the role of the National Librarian as on the slide.
It really felt like there was a change moving me from Director of Content Services into this new role. I also got a chance to speak. In my speech, I said three things: I thanked my colleagues and my family; I acknowledged the role of libraries and the importance they have in our society – the contribution they can make to our communities; and the third thing was my commitment. My commitment to being in the role and my commitment to the National Library team. I committed to working in partnership; to keep learning; and to be honest and courageous.
Then I asked my colleagues to do the same, particularly to be honest and courageous because when you are in a role like National Librarian you can’t do your best if you are working in isolation and if people aren’t telling you the things that you need to hear.
So, like I did at my whakamana, I am committing to those same things with the library community, with the library sector. I am committing to work in partnership; I am committing to keep learning and I am committing to being honest and courageous. I need you to do the same. I need you to work with me, because I can’t be that stalwart and mentor without help from all of you.
This photograph shows Honiana Love, Pou Ārahi of Nga Taonga Sound & Vision, and Courtney Johnson who’s the CE of Te Papa, and myself. I think it signals a change – it wasn’t that long ago that those roles were filled with a different demographic.
The National Library is more than just a concrete bunker in Wellington; it’s more than just the services that we provide; it is part of a network of libraries in Aotearoa (I like to think it is a vital part); it’s part of an international network of libraries. The national Library was built in 1965. It amalgamated the Alexander Turnbull Library, School Library Services, and the General Assembly Library. It’s currently structured into five areas: Content Services; Services to Schools, DigitalNZ, Alexander Turnbull Library; and our public engagement team, who connect the knowledge in the collections with communities.
According to the National Library Act, the purpose of the National Library Purpose of National Library is:
We have strategic directions. We developed these a few years ago. Turning Knowledge into Value and Looking Forward to 2030 talks about our aspirations and they are grouped into three key themes:
Tāhuhu – a series of programmes the government is funding including a new archives building that will be next door to the National Library and joined with an air bridge.
There is also a shared regional repository. It gives us an opportunity to have some of those conversations about how we manage collections across New Zealand and continue to have those discussions about documentary heritage – where are the gaps? Where are the overlaps? What are our priorities? How do we make sure that things are being well looked after and well preserved?
Alongside our Nation of Readers strategy we have our Reading Ambassador role. The nominations for that have just closed. We had a significant number of nominations. It’s going to be really exciting – seeing who is appointed to that role. This is run through the Te Puna Foundation. The role will help go out with some of those messages but also help connect some of the work that’s being done across the sector.
The One Knowledge Network – one of the key things about this is digitisation but the other important part of it is the NZ Libraries Partnership Programme. This comes from the COVID recovery money that the previous government and Minister, Tracey Martin, who was really instrumental in advocating for the role of libraries and the importance of libraries in supporting communities post-COVID.
We know that in times of economic downturn, public libraries see an increase in use, particularly supporting people who are job seeking or up skilling. The Government has invested significantly.
We have over 100 librarians that are going to be in positions around the country in public libraries working in areas like community engagement, digital inclusion, working with iwi Maori and really uplifting what public libraries are aiming to provide to support their communities.
We are very conscious that this funding is for a limited amount of time so we are asking – what are the discussions we can have now – the plans we can put in place now so we are ready when that funding comes to and end it isn’t just a cliff that people can fall off. So, we will be starting to have some sector discussions all around the country and with different kinds of libraries (not just public libraries)
Last year was supposed to be the year that we hosted the IFLA World Library Congress (WLIC). Wow… However, it is important that we remain connected to the global library community. There are things that we can do together as a global library community that we can’t do on our own. LIANZA is our connection to IFLA, it is the important professional body in New Zealand, it’s the way you get to know colleagues across library sectors and where you get to learn to chair meetings, it’s where you get to do presentations in a friendly environment and it’s where you get your professional development.
So, I really encourage you to keep your connection with LIANZA, keep being part of that community and then, look out beyond Aotearoa and make those connections through the international opportunities with IFLA. We haven’t given up, it may not be a WLIC and it may not be any time soon but there will be other IFLA opportunities.
And so, to wrap up, although our context is so, so different I couldn’t help but be struck by the words of the young poet Amanda Gorman who recited her poem The Hill We Climb at President Biden’s inauguration – her message of unity and working together is what I will strive for as Te Pouhuaki, a mentor and stalwart to protect, preserve and most importantly share so that we can achieve together.
