LAUNCHING IN MARCH – LIANZA/SLANZA TERTIARY GRANTS FUNDING

Great progress has been made on the new tertiary grants scheme which will provide people working in, or new to the library and information sector (LIS), with funding towards the costs of a library and information sector qualification.
The first funding round opens in early March 2022 with another funding round in October 2022. From 2023 the annual funding round will be held in October.

​A workshop to develop an evaluation framework for the funding resulted in the advisory group developing key outcomes to measure the success of the project. These outcomes will help guide the development of the selection criteria and applicant eligibility. The following eight outcomes were identified:
People increase their knowledge and skills in the LIS profession

1. People have increased/improved career and/or leadership opportunities
2. People are empowered to undertake further study and feel pride in gaining a qualification
3. Researchers are inspired to be responsive to the needs and interests of the sector
4. People have financial barriers to study reduced
5. Partnerships are developed and strengthened
6. People feel there is value in organisational membership and registration
7. People have increased awareness that librarianship is a profession.
   
   

The tertiary grants funding is open to all students seeking a library and information services qualification. Funding priority will initially be targeted and based on the current demographic needs of the sector. These are the aging workforce and the need to enable the sector to better respond to the different communities they serve. Hence, priority for the March 2022 grant round will be for applicants who are:

• under 35 years
• Māori or Pasifika
• seeking a new LIS qualification.
  ​
  

Perpetual Guardian has been appointed as the funding agent to manage the grants process. This funding is due to a $1.5 million grant to a LIANZA and SLANZA partnership from the Department of Internal Affairs New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme (NZLPP).

Information will be provided that the grant round is open in late February, through sector-wide emails, social media and on the Libraries Aotearoa, SLANZA, and Perpetual Guardian websites.