Kia ora Kaipatiki placemakers.
Thanks Paris for hosting an interesting and productive meeting yesterday!
I have been dwelling on some of the questions raised, and I would like to offer a more considered response about how Kaipatiki Libraries are striving to reflect the interests of our multicultural community. I would also like to invite feedback and participation from this group in our Library Storytelling Project, collecting and sharing local stories of place & belonging.
Libraries are about more than just books, Libraries are also multipurpose community facilities. Our relevance to the community is dependent on our ability to reflect the diverse cultural values of our customers. Libraries want their patrons to feel welcomed, at home, safe and valued. This ethos of inclusiveness is reflected in Auckland Libraries future direction’s strategy, and our promise to acknowledge the mana of every Aucklander.
Visiting Kaipatiki Libraries on any given day reveals a melting pot of different ethnicities. We endeavor to reflect this diversity in the different cultural programs and events we run such as Arabic story time, Chinese New Year celebrations, Matariki festival, language weeks etc... However, we are always striving to evolve our offerings in line with changing demographics. For this reason, Kaipatiki Libraries are currently running a service development project encouraging customers to take ownership of the Library space. The community lounge set up for this purpose asks patrons to engage, connect, and create together. We are seeking input from the community about what they want to do, see, and be involved with both at the Library and within the wider community. This includes encouraging Library users to take leadership roles in the creation and delivery of content. I think there is some crossover here with the principles of place making and I’m looking forward to discussing this with you all further.
Since the start of the Kaipatiki Libraries service development project, feedback and participation from the community has seen a diversification of our offerings. The influx of ideas has provided fresh opportunities for enriching our Library mahi and mana through the facilitation of community lead initiatives. Personally, I’ve witnessed a sense of deepening connection and shared purpose growing between Library staff and local individuals, groups, and organisations. Intrinsic to the project is the ongoing exercise of building and nurturing positive relationships and shared good will. For example, the Kaipatiki Project Environmental Centre have repeatedly expressed their sincere gratitude for the mahi Kaipatiki Libraries are offering in support of their environmental work.
One particularly rich work stream that has emerged out of the service development project is our involvement with the Jessie Tonar scout reserve restoration. Through this involvement I have been making connections with local mana whenua such as Lucy Tukua. I’ve also been learning about local stories of place, particularly concerning the significance of the Te Ara Awataha stream.
Libraries have a responsibility for nurturing a sense of place and belonging within our community. These principles are reflected in the brief I wrote for the IFLA Auckland Libraries film segment on the Te Ara Awataha restoration. The film is no longer in production because the covid-19 lockdown fell during our shooting deadline; however I still think this is a fantastic story that should be told and could be explored as a community project.
Promoting mana whenua’s involvement with the Ara Awataha restoration fits with Libraries commitment to preserve our heritage. Libraries also have an important role to play around issues of sustainability. The story outlined in the brief aligns with Auckland Libraries newly developing role as an environmental hub, (heritage and legacy) preserving our past & insuring our future. I am very keen to follow up on Mere's suggestion and further explore how Libraries can share local stories of cultural significance. If anyone in this group has contacts who would like to discuss this further, I would love to meet them.
I personally believe that Libraries are keystones in a healthy community. To remain relevant, we will continue providing services beyond just books. Kaipatiki Libraries are very keen to work with local groups, organizations and individuals, seeking opportunities for shared mahi aimed at enriching our communities.
Ngā mihi nui
Nick
International Federation of Library Associations documentary brief: Awataha Greenway Project:
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