National Forum on Public Libraries and Diversity

New Zealand Diversity Action Programme, facilitated by New Zealand Human Rights Commission provides participants with an opportunity to come together under the Diversity Forum held once a year in August.

Diversity Forum 2008

We are delighted to announce the programme for the 2008 New Zealand Diversity Forum for Public Libraries. The forum will be held on 24 and 25th August at Auckland Central City Library.

The forum is hosted by Auckland City Libraries in partnership with the Human Rights Commission and Waitakere Library and Information Services. Join us to hear how services for ethnic communities in public libraries are taking shape in different parts of New Zealand, share your experience and take back some bright ideas that our keynote speakers will share with us.

The programme has been strongly supported by Wellington City Libraries, Christchurch City Library and Palmerston North City Library.

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Diversity Forum 2008 Programme (Size 112K)

Diversity Forum 2006

In 2006, with the support from Race Relations Commissioner, Waitakere Libraries took leadership to bring together public libraries to discuss the role of public libraries in diverse communities.

The forums lead to two main action steps.

Multicultural Librarians discussion listserv

A special interest discussion list was launched by Christchurch City Libraries. It's a New Zealand wide forum for library professionals engaged in developing multicultural services and collections in libraries.

To join the discussion list:
http://wwwlists.ccc.govt.nz/archives/multiculturallibs-l.html

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print these documents.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

Multicultural Collection Library Resource

The Multicultural Collection Library Resource is a list of the businesses supplying materials in foreign languages.

To view the Supplier List click here (Size 176K)

Public Libraries and Diversity Forum Report 2006

To view the 2006 report click here   (Size 363K) 

2007 Diversity Forum

Once again in 2007, under the Diversity Forum, library professionals around the country gathered in Waitakere City to share information and develop plans to advance services to ethnic communities. The Forum was hosted by Waitakere Library and Information Services.

The two-day forum attracted some high profile speakers from around Australasia, including New Zealand Race Relations Commissioner, Joris de Bres, the Director of the Office of Ethnic Affairs, Mervin Singham, the National Library's Director of Services to Maori, John Mohi, and the Multicultural Consultant to the State Library of New South Wales, Oriana Acevedo.

In opening the conference, Cr Judy Lawley commented on the significance of our libraries in growing Waitakere as a Learning City.
"One of the particularly special contributions of our libraries", she said, "is towards our goal of celebrating diversity".

"Information is vital for new immigrants settling into the city and I'm delighted to see so many of our new citizens using the libraries".

In his address, Mr de Bres reminded the audience that libraries need to make the most of opportunities to engage with, and provide resources for, residents of all nationalities, from birth onwards.

"You are not just an information hub but a meeting point," he said.

"You are helping people access the diversity of stories and cultures of all communities in New Zealand.

Whether you're in Auckland or Invercargill, your people need to know what's going on in the rest of New Zealand as well as their own communities."

Jill Conway, Auckland Regional Manager, RMS Refugee Resettlement captivated the audience by explaining how cultural differences and traumatic experience become major hindering factors in the resettlement of refugee families. She highlighted the needs of refugees and how libraries can serve their information needs.

Hilton Tito, Migrant and Refugee Advisor, presented a paper, 'Ki Moa' explaining how Auckland City libraries are developing services for new migrants.

The Forum included a workshop entitled Developing A Diversity Action Plan, facilitated by Anne Hall, Library Manager of Fairfield City Council in New South Wales.

During the workshop participants developed an action plan that identified a goal focusing on a selected community and then defined specific steps required to undertake out-reach programmes, collection development and training.