Poipoia te kākano kia puawai
Nurture the seed and it will blossom
WHAT IS TE TŌTARA?
Te Tōtara is a capability framework for our Aotearoa library and information sector. It is a set of skills, behaviours and attitudes needed to do our jobs well, now and in the future.
This framework includes most of the capabilities needed for various libraries and related teams. It is based on best practices and considers evolving competencies such as digital information storage and sharing.
WHAT IS A WORKFORCE CAPABILITY FRAMEWORK?
A workforce capability framework identifies and describes the key elements of working in the sector, in this case, the library and information sector.
A workforce capability framework provides:
- Consistency: a common foundation and language to describe the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform work within a role in the library or wider sector.
- Clarity: a clear understanding of expectations for a role, helping people to identify strengths that will enable them to succeed in their current role and/or create a career pathway. It forms part of our personal development plan.
- Autonomy: an equitable approach to workforce development, helping people identify strengths and development objectives that will help them.
Te Tōtara Workforce Capability Framework includes underpinning kaupapa/principles, our common ethics and context, the core capabilities needed across most roles and reflection ideas and pathways to build capability to help grow stronger people and teams.
TE TŌTARA - CREATED FOR THE LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SECTOR, BY THE SECTOR
The framework was co-created with input from over 100 representatives in the Aotearoa library and information sector and collaboration with the Aotearoa (LIANZA and Te Rōpū Whakahau), Australian (ALIA), and United Kingdom (CILIP) library associations.
It was designed to help individuals, teams and managers think about their current level of knowledge, skills, and behaviours and to identify areas for growth for yourself or for your team. The goal is not to be an expert in every capability identified in this framework. Your capability level depends on your role and the context in which you work.
KAUPAPA FOR THIS CAPABILITY FRAMEWORK
Whether you are serving communities, caring for collections, or managing information, the vision of a capable Aotearoa library workforce is for kaimahi to be guided by these kaupapa Māori*:
- Rangatiratanga - leading self and others
- Kotahitanga - strength in unity, teamwork
- Manaakitanga - kindness, respect and hospitality
- Pūkengatanga - continuous development
- Whanaungatanga - kinship and relationships
- Ūkaipōtanga - nourishing a place of belonging
- Kaitiakitanga - guardianship and protection
*Adopted from the ART Confederation / Te Wānanga o Raukawa)
CAPABILITY DOMAINS AND THE TŌTARA METAPHOR
E kore te tōtara e tū noa i te pārae
engari me tū i roto i te wao-nui-a-Tāne
The tōtara does not stand alone on the plain,
it stands within the great forest
Feedback from your colleagues who piloted Te Tōtara
“Te Ao Māori approach that feels authentic. I also love the grounding in Te Ao Māori and the whakatauki throughout – it does not feel like add-ons or lip service to me and they fit perfectly in the context.”
“Like the idea that we have a shared language across the sector about capabilities and values.”
“Reflective practice: Using it as a way to reflect on what you are doing. Lends itself well to reflection and discussion as a group (eam meetings) conversation starter.”
“This has been something missing for staff – it says that they are valuable, and professionals, and they have the right to grow. Start small and help develop that further.”
WAYS TO USE TE TŌTARA CAPABILITY FRAMEWORK
There are many ways to approach Te Tōtara, as teams and individuals. Your approach may be:
- comprehensive or bite-sized
- starting at the roots or starting at a particular capability area
- engaging individually or as a team exercise, sharing team capabilities about the knowledge, skills and attitudes that make up librarianship
- sharing with key stakeholders in your organisationor sharing with groups in your communities.
LIANZA TE TŌTARA WORKFORCE CAPABILITY PROJECT 2024
Project work commenced in March 2024 to ensure that the investment of time, passion, and money in the development phase continued and that the sector has a sustainable model for workforce capability development.
This project will:
- evaluate the sector experience with Te Tōtara
- investigate online learning and report on opportunities
- promote workforce capability development for the sector and the framework
- evaluate, develop and promote the opportunities and barriers for sector-wide implementation.
How you can be involved in this project:
- Anyone is welcome to drop a line to the Project Manager, Annemarie Thomas >
- Leaders and team managers considering using Te Tōtara might like to join the Te Tōtara community of practice on LIANZA Connect here >
- If you're not on LIANZA Connect yet, sign up here >