Briefing to new Ministers of Parliament from the library and information sector

In December 2023, LIANZA asked SLANZA National Executive to provide content for a briefing paper on issues relating to the library and information sectors in Aotearoa that was presented to our new Minister of Education, Hon Erica Stanford, as well as three other Ministers, Hon Simeon Brown, Hon Brooke van Velden, and Hon Paul Goldsmith, this month. 
As key stakeholders in the library and information sector. LIANZA, SLANZA and PLNZ wrote this briefing paper to introduce new MP's to our organisations and identify key areas affecting our library and information members. 
We are pleased that SLANZA’s voice was present in this important communication to the Ministers to inform them of the work of SLANZA, and the critical role of school libraries and librarians in the education sector.  
You can read this briefing paper here in full.  
The following text is some of the school library-relevant sections in the briefing paper: 
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SCHOOL LIBRARIES  

• There is currently no requirement or specialised funding for schools in Aotearoa New Zealand to provide library spaces, services or staff. This means most students don’t have access to a school library run by a school librarian. New Zealand’s literacy levels continue to decline with persistent gaps between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnic groups and genders.1 
• A recent National Library survey highlighted a library as essential for promoting and supporting reading for pleasure, achieving literacy standards, strengthening inquiry learning and teaching and enhancing students’ social and emotional learning and well-being.2  
• ​Overseas research shows that school libraries, staffed by school librarians, lead to improved literacy and wellbeing outcomes. Both literacy and wellbeing are current government priorities. Learning experiences encountered within the library can significantly contribute to students’ development in these priority areas.3  
• School libraries are uniquely positioned to engender sustained gains in student learning. To improve literacy in Aotearoa, the provision of specialised funding and support for every school in Aotearoa to have a school library adequately staffed with a diverse, inclusive collection that meets the interests and needs of the school community is essential.4     
• ​According to June 2023 information from the Ministry of Education of the approximate 2500 schools in New Zealand:  
  • only 763 state schools in Aotearoa have a school library with space that can accommodate a minimum of 30 students. 
  • ​there are only 51 full-time librarians and 797 part-time library staff, making a total of only 848 school library staff working in schools across Aotearoa. 
• We encourage this government to address the chronic issue of inequitable access to library services staffed by qualified library staff in primary and secondary schools. 

1 https://theeducationhub.org.nz/the-state-of-literacy-how-bad-are-things-and-why-does-it-matter/  
2 https://natlib.govt.nz/schools/school-libraries/understanding-school-libraries/school-libraries-in-aotearoanz-survey-reports/school-libraries-in-aotearoa-new-zealand-2022 
3 https://theeducationhub.org.nz/school-libraries-as-safe-spaces-promoting-literacy-and-wellbeing/  
4 https://www.nzcer.org.nz/nzcerpress/curriculum-matters/articles/under-recognised-underused-andundervalued-school-libraries