Transcript
Information Support: a Community Partnership - The Missing Link
Introduction
Information Literacy – the bridge
New Zealand perspective Distinct bicultural character Main issues – information and
support
Rotorua
Population 67,000 - 35% (14.7%) Māori
Māori - lower educational and economic profile
NGOs & Iwi - addressing educational and related issues
Whare Takiura/Waiariki Institute of Technology
Pepeha (proverb) about boundaries of Waiariki region
“Mai I Maketu ki Tongariro, Mai Nga Kuri A Wharei ki Tihirau, me Te Kaokaoroa O Patetere”
“From Maketu to Tongariro, from Katikati to Whanagaparaoa, and beyond the Mamaku ranges to Tokoroa”
Waiariki Institute of Technology
Main Campus at Mokoia, Rotorua
Satellite Campuses at Whakatane, Tokoroa and Taupo
NZ Polytechnics/Institutes of Technology
Mostly vocational programmes, but growing number of degree level courses
Courses offered by Waiariki Tourism & TravelEducation & TeachingForestry & Wood processingMāori StudiesVisual ArtsBusiness & Management StudiesComputingNursing & HealthEngineering
Waiariki Student Learning Centre
Library and Learning Resource Centre - Te Rutoi-A-Tini [Place of many learning(s)] Malcolm Murchie Library
Student focused environment Teaching and learning facilities
under one roof Digital Library Open Access room Meeting room Video Viewing rooms Interview/study rooms Classrooms
Waiariki and the Community: institutional perspective
Waiariki is about people and lifelong development
Student population – 45% Māori – language and culture have an impact on Waiariki
No institution can operate effectively in isolation from its community
Close liaison with community groups and industry
Cooperative ventures with tertiary providers and secondary schools
Biculturalism at Waiariki
Unique relationship between Māori and Pakeha as set out in Treaty
Acknowledges the status of Māori as the Tangata Whenua
Stated commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi
Directorate of Māori Development Unit established in October 1996
Biculturalism in the Library
Written Tangata Whenua Policy Created a partnership position High ratio of Māori and Pacific
Islander staff members
Information Literacy (IL)
To realise when information is needed and know how to locate, evaluate, and effectively use it ethically
Information Age
“The illiterate of today is not the person that cannot read or write, but someone who has not learned how to learn” (Toffler, 1970)
Humankind’s knowledge doubled from 1750 –1990
Doubled again from 1900 –1950 Doubled every five years since
then By 2020 it will double every 73
days
Information Literacy for the Information Age Information Age requires that
literacy be expanded to include information literacy
Individuals are becoming less reliant on librarians
Librarians will act as navigators Emphasis is teaching users to
be self-sufficient “…librarians are no more an
endangered species, but an essential commodity”
Best when offered by librarians in partnership with teachers
Information Literacy at Waiariki
All students are taught IL Proactively introduce IL to the
wider community 61% of students are second
chance learners Accessing information has not
been part of their experiences IL would empowering future
students and promote the institution
Information Literacy Course
Six modules: Introduction to library and
resources Locating resources in the library
- traditional and electronic Internet basics Full text databases Resource evaluation Information Ethics
Free Computer courses
Free basic computer courses after hours on and off campus
Basic computer skills and IT confidence
Logical step to Information Literacy skills
Community Organizations
Many target Māori - the socio-economic profile requiring redress or support
Very few community education programmes have formal IL training
Quality could be compromised - life long education
Digital divide
Report Four to Minister of Māori Affairs, - importance of ICT to close gaps between Māori and non-Māori, but no specific attention is given to integration of IL
LIANZA/Te Rōpū Whakahau recommendation to the National Information Strategy - digital divide and very specific Māori information needs must be addressed
Rūnanga - “Places of learning”
Often Marae (Meeting house) based with a definite community focus
Closer links are being forged with one marae
Wānanga
Four Wānanga or Māori universities in the region
Waiariki’s management is establishing areas of cooperation
Delivery of IL programmes is one such area
Library Community support
Members of the public may use the library resources in-house
Outside Membership available
Areas of success include:
• Anglican Church’s Wānanga• Ngati Pikiao• Rotorua Schools’ Trust• Public Libraries• High Schools• Literacy NZ/Aotearoa
Challenge
To promote IL proactively Government’s “Knowledge
Society” initiative and ICT support would see inclusion of IL as an essential component
Library profession is lobbying government and creating non-traditional platforms where IL can be delivered
Cooperation
NZ government is actively encouraging cooperation
Delivery of IL can contribute to cooperation
Benefits
Reciprocal benefits for Institution and community
Tangible results of Institutional goals by the library
Marketing potential for Waiariki Staff development for library
staff Wider community perspective -
sense of support and sharing
Vision
Modern library - not collections, systems, technology, staffing, buildings, but actions
How we translate vision into action will determine our credibility in the community
Responding to community needs - educational
Expanding services
Conclusion
“The dawn of the information age is behind us. But don't get too excited: it's still morning, and there's a long way to go before lunch”.---Stephen M. Scheider
THANK YOU
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