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This paper aims to explore definitions and notions of what a community archive is, and the tensions between different understandings of community archives.

The paper is a critical analysis of community archives definitions and understanding from researchers and practitioners across the wider heritage information sector.

Community archives are a growing area of interest for researchers because of the archives’ intrinsic link to the community and their provision of the evidence of it. While discussion often focuses on a paradigm of transformative purpose, existing definitions around community archives continue to be tenuous, reflecting different real or perceived types and practices and the perspective of the author and the sector they work within. Variations in definition can also occur because of differences in perspective around theory and practice, with many practitioner-based definitions intrinsically bound with the community they represent. This can result in community archives being defined as “alternative” based on mainstream practice or “political” based on theoretical purview, or “meeting the needs of community” by the community archivists themselves.

The paper is conceptual and does not attempt to provide one definition that covers the perceived extent of community archives. It is part of work in progress on the nature of community archives and the impact such discourse may have on archival theory and practice.

This paper provides an overview of some of the key issues and themes impacting a definition of community archives, and in doing so works towards a broader understanding the nature of community archives. In most cases, the concept of “community” seems to provide a common definitive element and practitioner definitions focus on addressing the needs of self-defined community to a greater or lesser extent.

This paper aims to analyse the differing views on and needs of librarians and their managers for continuing professional development (CPD).

This article draws on the findings of a survey conducted by the authors in 2005. The survey was an assessment of the CPD needs of New Zealand's librarians and library assistants.

There is a significant gap between the CPD that individuals want, and that which their managers think they should have. Organisations overall need a greater strategic focus on CPD to ensure that budgets are spent well, staff are appropriately skilled, and the impact of CPD on both individuals and the organisation is tangible. Individuals need to take more responsibility for ensuring their needs are met.

Highlights a dual focus on CPD across the profession, in the light of the decision by the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa to adopt professional registration.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the changes in undergraduate library and information studies education in New Zealand over the past decade. It considers developments in the delivery of distance education, focusing on e‐learning (or flexible learning) modes, and changes to the curriculum due to the changing nature and requirements of the profession.

The paper is a case study of the Open Polytechnic, the main provider of undergraduate LIS programmes in New Zealand. It compares the current situation to that of 1999 when the programmes were established, and analyses developments in the delivery of distance education and the changing nature and requirements of the profession.

The changing nature of the LIS profession, and in particular developments in information and communications technologies, as well as the possibilities offered by e‐learning paradigms have led to significant changes in the curriculum, especially in the delivery of courses. There is a tension between delivering a sound academically coherent curriculum that meets all the changing needs of the profession: core theory, knowledge and skills remain, while new technologies, services, formats and tools are demanding equal time in the curriculum.

The paper is of interest to researchers involved in distance education or curriculum design in LIS.

The paper considers the evolution of distance learning courses for the library community and is of interest to the wider LIS sector.

The case study presents a picture of New Zealand LIS undergraduate education and shows how programmes are changing in response to educational developments and the profession's requirements.