September 21 2012
Danish Librarian Shares Experience At Library Conference
New Zealand librarians will have the chance to learn how Danish innovations could work here thanks to a visit from
Denmark’s senior library expert.
Rolf Hapel, Director of Citizens’ Services and Libraries (CSL) in Aarhus and an advisor on the Global Libraries Board of
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is one of six keynote speakers at this year’s Library and Information Association
of New Zealand (LIANZA) conference in Palmerston North.
Over 450 library and information professionals will attend the conference, which runs from Sunday 23 September to
Wednesday 26 September at the Awapuni Function Centre.
Hapel will speak about new models of public libraries and innovative practices implemented in Danish libraries. He will
also discuss Urban Mediaspace, the new main Library being built in Aarhus.
LIANZA President Heather Lamond said Denmark was well-known for its innovation in the library world.
“With a population of 310,000, Aarhus is similar in size to Christchurch, so it will be interesting to see what they
have been able to achieve.”
Other keynote speakers are: Karen Schneider (also known as The Free Range Librarian), Director of the Cushing Library at
Holy Names University in Oakland, California; Marshall Breeding, American library technology consultant; Meredith
Farkas, Head of Instructional Services at Portland State University; Mavis Mullins, Director of Paewai Mullins Shearing
and Chair of Hautaki Ltd (the NZ shareholder within 2Degrees); and DK, Social Media Manager for CORE Education and
author of Zen and the Heart of Social Media.
The conference programme includes a range of presentations and workshops by New Zealand librarians from all sectors.
The role of public libraries in disasters is examined in the presentations ‘Mapping, measuring and valuing the social
and economic benefit of Christchurch city libraries – post earthquake’ and ‘Documenting Rena – Tauranga City Library
experience’ and their role in the community explored in presentations such as ‘South Auckland Libraries - connecting
with Southside youth’ and ‘Prisoner rehabilitation and public libraries’.
Many sessions contain practical advice on using new technologies, for example ‘Beyond the stereotype – school libraries
creating engagement with mobile devices and play’, and ‘ebooks-right we’ve got them, what the hell do we do now?’.
“LIANZA Conference is a great chance for library and information professionals to share expertise and advice with each
other in our changing and challenging environment. I am especially pleased to welcome so many colleagues to my hometown
and look forward to sharing a uniquely Manawatu experience with both our international speakers and local delegates,”
said LIANZA President Heather Lamond.
Programme
Keynote Speakers
• Aarhus Public Libraries: http://www.aakb.dk/in-english/about-aarhus-public-libraries
• Karen Schneider: Free range librarian http://freerangelibrarian.com/
• Meredith Farkas: Information wants to be free http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/
• Marshall Breeding: Library Technology Guides http://www.librarytechnology.org/
• DK: justadandak http://justadandak.com/who/
ENDS