New National Librarian welcomed

Media Statement 3 May 2011

New National Librarian welcomed

Bill Macnaught has been officially welcomed into his position as the new National Librarian.

Mr Macnaught becomes the first permanent National Librarian appointment since the National Library was merged with the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and Archives New Zealand earlier this year.

“It has been great to welcome Bill at such an exciting time for the National Library and for the wider Department,” said Stephen Crombie, DIA’s Deputy Chief Executive of the Knowledge, Information, Research and Technology branch.

“The National Library is vital for the cultural prosperity of New Zealand and Bill’s strong background in championing heritage collections and making libraries relevant and accessible from his time in Britain makes him ideally suited to lead the ongoing development of the National Library’s collections and to make the most of the opportunities offered by the Library’s close association within DIA with other centres of knowledge expertise.

“Bill will also oversee and direct the huge amount of work necessary to return the National Library to the iconic National Library Building, which is undergoing extensive refurbishment but which will be operational again in 2012.”

Stephen Crombie also paid tribute to Acting National Librarian, Sue Sutherland, who is leaving the National Library after six years.

“Sue, together with her management team, has led the Library’s successful merger with DIA but before that she had overseen many of the projects that Bill will now inherit responsibility for seeing through to completion. Sue provided the leadership for New Zealand’s Digital Content Strategy 2007, the rollout of the Aotearoa People’s Network Kaharoa and was sponsor for the New Generation Strategy. We all wish her well for the future.”

Bill Macnaught’s bio

Bill Macnaught has spent the past five years as Manager of Puke Ariki, New Plymouth, Taranaki’s flagship library, museum and visitor information centre. Before coming to New Zealand, he was the Director, Libraries and Arts and later Head of Cultural Development at Gateshead Council. He was awarded a CBE in the UK for services to public libraries and cultural life. He was Chair of the UK Advisory Council on Libraries and visiting Professor (Librarianship) at the University of Northumbria.

Since 2006, he has been a Commissioner on the Library and Information and Advisory Commission (LIAC) advising the Minister for the National Library. He is the 2010/11 Chair of the Association of Public Library Managers and the Deputy Chair of Museums Aotearoa.

Bill Macnaught is a founder member of the Governance Group for the Aotearoa People’s Network Kaharoa programme which was inspired by a UK project in which he was involved. He initiated the discussions that led to the National Library supporting the current Kotui project, designed to deliver better value for public libraries through the collective procurement of library management IT services.

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