Description
The New Zealand government has signalled a new era for collaboration by establishing a Library and Information Advisory Commission (LIAC) under the National Library of New Zealand Act 2003. The statutory purpose of the Commission is to “provide advice to the Minister on library and information issues, including mātauranga Māori”. LIAC is required to take account of recent national and international developments in relation to library and information services. The promotion of collaboration in relation to protecting, preserving and promoting access to information is specifically listed as a key responsibility of LIAC. LIAC is an independent advisor to government via the Minister for the National Library but is not restricted to National Library issues. The work of the Commission in highlighting the importance of library and information services to the wider cultural and economic life of the country is a unique opportunity to work across sectors and suggest a strategic framework for the development of the information society and the knowledge economy in New Zealand. In this respect it will wish to work with LIANZA (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa), which has already done considerable work in developing a national approach to information strategy. This is based on a three-pronged approach to knowledge: Knowledge Access – the infrastructure to access knowledge Knowledge Content – the content to be made available and accessible through an information infrastructure Knowledge Equity – the skills needed to turn information into knowledge. As Chair of the Commission, the author of this paper contributes to LIAC a perspective of the importance of e-learning and e-research. Other members bring a wealth of experience from national, public and research library backgrounds and from education, ICT and the media. The work of the Commission in harnessing a wide range of expertise to provide an innovative model of collaboration is outlined.
Included in
A new era in library and information collaboration in New Zealand
The New Zealand government has signalled a new era for collaboration by establishing a Library and Information Advisory Commission (LIAC) under the National Library of New Zealand Act 2003. The statutory purpose of the Commission is to “provide advice to the Minister on library and information issues, including mātauranga Māori”. LIAC is required to take account of recent national and international developments in relation to library and information services. The promotion of collaboration in relation to protecting, preserving and promoting access to information is specifically listed as a key responsibility of LIAC. LIAC is an independent advisor to government via the Minister for the National Library but is not restricted to National Library issues. The work of the Commission in highlighting the importance of library and information services to the wider cultural and economic life of the country is a unique opportunity to work across sectors and suggest a strategic framework for the development of the information society and the knowledge economy in New Zealand. In this respect it will wish to work with LIANZA (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa), which has already done considerable work in developing a national approach to information strategy. This is based on a three-pronged approach to knowledge: Knowledge Access – the infrastructure to access knowledge Knowledge Content – the content to be made available and accessible through an information infrastructure Knowledge Equity – the skills needed to turn information into knowledge. As Chair of the Commission, the author of this paper contributes to LIAC a perspective of the importance of e-learning and e-research. Other members bring a wealth of experience from national, public and research library backgrounds and from education, ICT and the media. The work of the Commission in harnessing a wide range of expertise to provide an innovative model of collaboration is outlined.