Since February the Library has had a group of staff from the Customer Service and Liaison teams who are Pasifika library reps (or Pasifika Champions).
These are:
Central – Dave C, Janette, Beth
Education – Aurelia, Jane
EPS – Dave L, John, Jenny
MB – Caroline, Rebecca

The role of the Pasifika library reps includes:
• Developing our understanding of Pasifika students and their needs
• Providing a friendly face and first point of contact for Pasifika students
• Making Pasifika students feel welcome in the libraries and ensuring they get help from the appropriate staff
• Taking library tours for Pasifika students (including the Pasifika cohorts in the Pathways tours)
• Looking for opportunities to promote and celebrate Pasifika events and activites (both UC and external) within our libraries
• Attending Pasifika events on campus to build relations with the Pacific Development Team

These staff attended Cultural Intelligence training delivered by Pauline Luafutu-Simpson. This looked at some of the common challenges that Pasifika students face in attending university and research looking at what supports Pasifika students’ learning. Most of the reps then met with the Pasifika mentors which provided a useful opportunity to make connections and to talk about what the library can do for students.

This initiative is one way we can support the UC Pasifika Strategy 2014-2018

Jenny