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The purpose of this research is to explore how immigrant library users view Auckland Libraries as a multicultural bridge in New Zealand. The research explored the various factors keeping different cultures apart in the New Zealand socio cultural systems and to find out the gaps in the provision of multicultural services in Auckland public libraries. The study also discusses the specific roles Auckland public libraries play in the development of multiculturalism in New Zealand from the perspective of immigrant users.

The study uses a qualitative research approach. Semi-structured interviews conducted with 15 participants including five library staff members and ten users of the Auckland library. Thematic analysis (qualitative data analysis, where data is grouped into themes) was used for data analysis.

Participants perceive that the Auckland Library had an advantage over other citizen service institutions in the development and services of multiculturalism in New Zealand. The participants understand that language, cultural background, beliefs and values are some of the causes of gaps between different ethnic groups, and only by learning from each other can groups enhance mutual understanding between them. The services and programs Auckland Library offer to immigrant enable various interactions among different cultural groups and enhance learning from one another to facilitate their integration into the New Zealand society. The findings show that Auckland public libraries have some gaps in multicultural services. In particular, there are more than 200 different ethnicities in Auckland, but the Auckland library's website does not have the function of a multilingual search tab service, lacks a multicultural book collection and some of the existing collections of books are of low quality, low literary value and so on. The study suggests that these issues need to be improved.

This was small-scale research involving the perspectives of only 15 participants. Nevertheless, the findings provide constructive insight into the development of multicultural services in Auckland libraries that can serve as a useful basis for a broader exploration of more immigrant groups in Auckland and New Zealand as a whole.

The results of this research will provide valuable information for the Auckland libraries to have a better plan for multicultural services in the future. The findings will also serve as a reference for improving multicultural services in the Auckland libraries.

Although other studies have looked at immigrants’ behavior and perception on various issues in New Zealand, this study is the first to look at how different immigrant groups percept Auckland libraries as a multicultural bridge to help integrate them.

Homelessness has been a growing problem in many countries since the 1980s. The purpose of this paper is to examine homeless peoples’ perspectives on public library services, and to compare these with the attitudes of library staff.

Eight interviews have been conducted with rough sleepers and formerly homeless library patrons to examine their experiences, needs and expectations or the library. In addition, four library staff have been interviewed about their attitudes to services for members of the homeless community.

Most rough sleepers and formerly homeless patrons who participated in this research viewed the public library as a safe place because it offered a welcoming atmosphere, access to a variety of resources and services targeted at the homeless. Nonetheless, sleeping has always been a major reason for their use of the library. Most staff members agreed that providing services targeted toward rough sleepers changed the dynamic between staff and the homeless patrons, but there was some disagreement between staff members about whether targeted services were the most appropriate approach.

Understanding homeless and rough sleepers’ expectations for public library services may be useful in revising policy and developing services for this community. In particular, developing partnerships with organisations supporting the homeless is an effective way of developing relevant services for this often-marginalised group.

Little research has considered public library services from the perspective of homeless people. This research is intended to fill that gap.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how Thai immigrants who relocated to Auckland, New Zealand, looked for and found the information they needed during their settlement process.

The study used a qualitative methodology through semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions that were conducted with nine Thai immigrants living in the greater Auckland region. Mwarigha’s three stages of settlement and Dervin’s Sense-Making Methodology were used as theoretical frameworks for understanding the information-seeking behaviour of the Thai immigrants and their information needs and associated barriers to accessing information at different stages of the settlement process.

The information needs of Thai immigrants in Auckland were diverse based on the stage of each participant’s settlement process. The main information needs of the participants were for employment, English language-learning, housing, health and making connections. Their main information sources during settlement were family, friends and the internet. The participants saw Auckland Libraries as a useful source but did not take full benefit of the library’s services. The main barriers in accessing services were English language incompetence, lack of resources available in the Thai language, lack of time and library staff behaviour.

The results of this study will provide library and information professionals with new insights into Thai immigrants’ information-seeking behaviour and their information needs, which may contribute to providing immigrants with the information tools they need to improve the quality of their lives in New Zealand. As this study is limited to Thai immigrants in Auckland only, there is a need to conduct a study on the information needs and seeking behaviour of Thai immigrants in other locales. It may be of interest to researchers to conduct a quantitative study of a larger sample to further generalise the findings.

There is minimal research that specifically investigates the information needs, sources and barriers to information experienced by immigrants throughout the settlement process. This study is unique in that it focuses on a specific ethnic community of Thais. The findings of this study can be a stepping stone towards further research to gain a deeper understanding of Thai and other immigrants’ information needs, sources, barriers and their perceptions towards public libraries.

The purpose of this paper is to describe several projects which made use of new technologies in the cataloguing environment at the University of Auckland Library, and emphasise the need for quality bibliographic data, as the basis of successful information retrieval.

The University of Auckland Library is continually looking for ways to improve access to its resources. Particular attention has been given to exploring opportunities offered by modern technology. The paper describes how tools like MARC Report and MARC Global can be used to improve the quality of existing bibliographic data in library catalogues. It looks at strategies for automated bibliographic data creation. It also describes processes involved in creating gateways to specific parts of existing collections. Emphasis is also given to initiatives aimed at providing access to material that was not traditionally described in the catalogue.

The need to improve library catalogues is obvious but metadata quality remains essential to effective information retrieval. Advances in computers and information technology have created huge potentials for cataloguing staff to increase efficiency and accuracy, and hold down costs.

The University of Auckland Library believes that empowering cataloguing staff with new technology is critical to efficiently providing access to a wide range of information sources. The Cataloguing Department utilizes technology to automate and manage many of its functions and to streamline its procedures.

The paper argues that it is important to recognise the continued value of the library catalogue. The catalogue is still the main representation of the library's resources, both print and electronic, and an essential aid in finding relevant material on a particular subject. Efficient utilisation of the catalogue means improved access to library collections and better service to patrons.

This paper gives a brief introduction to the Heritage Collection at Auckland City Libraries in New Zealand and notes the significant public support and commitment given to the preservation of heritage material. What, as an institution of cultural identity, Auckland City Libraries are doing to ensure the ongoing preservation of and improved access to original heritage resources which are of national significance is outlined and some current and future projects are described.

The Engineering Library, the University of Auckland’s latest state‐of‐the‐art and completely remodelled subject‐specific library, is proving extremely popular with its users. This article aims to describe the successful design of a library building to cope with new roles, new goals and new futures. It looks at the planning and implementation, provides illustrations of innovative solutions and services, and outlines the key drivers and outcomes. It describes the transformation of a late 1960s library that was crowded, stuffy and lacking in natural light, to a striking new learning environment with many enhanced services.

Description of the process of redevelopment.

A complete renovation of a building can make a striking difference.

A profile of the University of Auckland Engineering Library with redesigned services.

While examining subject headings and tags is a popular research topic, most studies focus on comparing user-assigned tags and professional subject heading. Studies that compare Library of Congress Subject Headings to user-assigned tags, for instance, dominate the literature. However, little research has involved an examination on how and to what extent these features are actually used by library staff. This study adds to the body of knowledge. This study aims to focus on how librarians perceive and use tags. By focusing on people’s perceptions rather than simply comparing social tags and formal subject headings, new insights can be collected.

This research collects data through semi-structured interviews conducted with 12 library staff from various roles and locations throughout Auckland Libraries.

The research findings show that while social tags have been adopted and used in their work by the majority of library staff interviewed, there remains resistance to using them. Some library staff preferred the traditional hierarchical subject headings found in the traditional catalogue. A general lack of awareness about tag functions and features is also evident among the staff interviewed.

The research focus is unique because it examines this phenomenon in a public library setting rather than in academic libraries, an area that is rarely examined in the literature.

This paper aims to describe the approach taken by a staff development committee at a large academic library in New Zealand to reinvigorate professional and personal development. It seeks to examine the processes used, projects carried out and to highlight the outcomes.

To identify training needs, a skills and attributes matrix was developed to which current courses were mapped. Priorities identified in the matrix informed the creation of a programme for which courses were commissioned. An orientation programme for new staff was re‐introduced which included the creation of a new staff development and training web site.

The approach taken by the Library Staff Development Advisory Group created a sustainable process, whereby staff development could periodically be reviewed. A relevant staff development programme could be created to meet the most important current training needs of staff. Reintroducing an orientation programme was successful – it was well attended and favourably received by staff.

An in‐depth needs analysis for specialist tasks to identify specific training needs for those areas could be conducted. Measuring the impact of training on services or behaviour has not yet been attempted.

This paper may be useful to any group deciding to review staff development in any workplace and is not restricted to libraries.

The purpose of this paper is to continue the discussion on the implementation of an ISO‐compliant interlibrary loan management system at the University of Auckland. The implementation now includes an end‐user interface and this report aims to investigate the savings in staff time which had been anticipated from its introduction. Staff input into end‐user requests is also reviewed.

The approach takes the form of an analysis of six months of requesting statistics with a discussion on a number of related issues including mediating end‐user requests.

Measurable time has been saved from reducing data entry by interlibrary loans staff. Continuing staff input into requests is described and some solutions reviewed. Other savings in staff time are identified and some possible options for the future are discussed.

The research undertaken should help other libraries identify some of the benefits and issues involved in patrons entering their requests directly into an ISO‐compliant interlibrary loans management system.

The report is believed to be the first attempt to quantify and/or describe the staff savings to be made from implementation of the VDX end‐user interface, ZPortal.

The University of Auckland Library appointed a Digital Projects Librarian in 2001. There were a number of tasks that the librarian needed to do before major digitisation projects started in earnest. These tasks form the digitisation framework and encompass an inventory of projects, raising awareness, training and re‐skilling of staff, developing networks and collaborations, obtaining funding, instigating digitisation projects, enhancing the IT infrastructure, strategic planning and writing a digitisation policy. The policy sits at the centre of the framework and is an essential part of the structure. Each element is described in detail – what was done and what was learned from this. These practical experiences and the recommendations are aimed at helping all sizes and types of organisations to begin developing their own frameworks for digitisation.