Kia ora koutou

Keeping this brief as know how busy everyone is.
Our student numbers have increased again this year, as well publicised in the media lately, and we are all seeing it firsthand in demand for study spaces, our services, and our welcome.  Just moving across campus at the moment needs additional time built in, to weave a path through the flash mobs of eager ākonga!

My gratitude and admiration to you all, for doing your utmost to deliver great service and high quality learning experiences, while pressure is all around.  I appreciate also that our upgrade to FOLIO, and the changes we’ve made to our Discovery services, is adding complexity at this time.  We’re continuing to build our understanding of the issues while working closely with the vendor, to resolve any issues identified.

My thanks too to the team who participated in, and led programme sessions, at the NDF / Cantage / ARANZ community day on Wednesday.  Attending were Fiona, Cherilyn, Hannah, Sarah and Helen, with Damian helping with set-up.  Erin and Lydia both presented – ka rawe!

A reminder that our Library Strategy Navigator fixed-term role is still open for applications, closing this Sunday 3^rd March.  Noting that for an existing member of the team, we would explore setting up a secondment.  More info, and the position description, available here: Library Strategy Navigator – University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

Finally, I’m excited to share with you the IFLA Library Buildings Section Seminar Programme, to be held at the University of Hawai’i in two weeks. The seminar theme is: Storytelling and Imagination Embracing Indigeneity in Architecture and Transforming Difficult Library Buildings

And we have keynote sessions as follows:

• Whare Timu, Warren & Mahoney, Aotearoa – Voices of Indigeneity: The Potential of Co-Design
• Robert Iopa, WCIT Architecture, Hawai’i – Native Hawaiian architecture
• Elisabeth Martin, MDA-Design Group, New York Transforming and Renewing Existing Libraries: Examples and Field Notes from the Field
• Gili Meerovitch, Pfeiffer Partners, Los Angeles – Beyond Renovation: Turning Constraints into Opportunities in Library Transformations

I look forward to sharing back insights from these sessions and speakers, when I return.  I’m leaving for Hawai’i on Sunday 10 March.  Aurelia will be Acting UL in my absence.  Ngā mihi, Aurelia!

Kia pai te mutunga wiki,
Kat