Update on SLANZA opposition to the changes to National Library Services to Schools

Dear SLANZA Members, 

I trust your new year has begun well and you are excited for all that 2015 will bring.  As many of you will already be aware, at the end of last year the National Library announced some changes to their Services for Schools.  If you are not familiar with these changes, you can read about their Transformation Programme here.   

Bridget Schaumann, our President of SLANZA, and the National Executive have been working hard throughout January to advocate on your behalf against this decision.  In order to bring you up to date, here are some of the actions taken so far. 

Firstly, meetings are being arranged in your local regions to discuss the National Library changes and by now you will have heard from your local representative or will do very soon.  It is hoped that Geraldine Howell, Director of Literacy and Public Programmes for the National Library, will be able to attend these meetings so our members have an opportunity to ask questions and put their concerns directly.  If you would like to know more, please contact your local SLANZA National Executive representative whose contacts can be found on our SLANZA website.  

An open letter has been sent to the National Library as well as personal letters to Geraldine Howell, Bill Macnaught (National Librarian) and Hon. Peter Dunn, Minister of Internal Affairs.  In addition to this many other ministers and members of Parliament have been contacted: Hon. Hekia Parata, Catherine Delahunty, Chris Hipkins, Jacinda Adern, and Hon. Nikki Kaye. 

Bridget and the National Executive are also contacting many other organisations across the education sector in order to ensure our concern and dismay about this decision taken by the National Library is clearly heard.  Bridget was also interviewed by the Sunday Star Times (Jan 25, 2015) and an interview with Bridget by John Gerritson will air on Morning Report, Thursday 05 February. 

You can help by ensuring that the teaching staff in your schools and your Principal are well aware of this change of service from the National Library and encourage them to mobilize their own networks in opposition to this decision. 

We will continue to work on your behalf and keep you updated.  

Cathy Kennedy  
Communications Leader 
SLANZA National Executive