Top thinkers to lead National Digital Library

National Library of New Zealand

21 September 2007

Trio of top thinkers to lead National Digital Library

The National Library of New Zealand has bolstered its strategy to unleash the potential of the digital environment through the appointment of two key staff to positions within the National Digital Library.

John Truesdale was last week named Director, National Digital Library, leading a talented team whose focus is on access to and preservation of New Zealand digital content. Today, the National Library announces the appointments of his two thought partners in a concept designed to bring a breadth of thinking and experience to the team.

Paul Reynolds has been appointed to the role of Adjunct Director. An Auckland-based commentator on the topics of information access and cultural/technological change, he places a strong emphasis on how communities access and contribute to knowledge.

He is the co-founder and Joint Managing Director of McGovern Online, a company that provides advice in the field of new media and the Internet, and that has a strong strategic and project footprint in the GLAM sector. In 2005, he was appointed to the New Zealand Government Digital Strategy Advisory Group; he is part of the Capability Panel for REANNZ, the New Zealand Advanced Network, and is serving his second term on the New Zealand Library and Information Advisory Commission.

"Mr Reynolds is widely renowned in digital areas within New Zealand and internationally," said Penny Carnaby, National Librarian and Chief Executive of the National Library of New Zealand. "The role of Adjunct Director is a part-time one in which he will be contracted to deliver specific thinking to the National Digital Library."

In announcing the second appointment, Ms Carnaby praised Steve Knight as a long-time and much-valued member of the National Library. As Associate Director, he will provide leadership in formal content and preservation space.

"This role acknowledges the outstanding contribution he has made to the National Library, particularly in the field of digital preservation, and allows his expertise to influence strategic developments within the National Digital Library."

In helping to increase the Library's online presence, Mr Knight has worked on standards, digitisation, web archiving and interoperability issues. He was involved in setting up the National Digital Forum and the award-winning Matapihi collaboration, a web-based single point of access to multiple digital collections.

Mr Knight represents the National Library on the National Digital Forum Board, is part of the evaluation panel considering proposals under the European Commission's Framework 6 & 7 Work Programmes, and is on the Steering Committee for the International Internet Preservation Consortium.

National Digital Library Director John Truesdale said: "Together, this team will ensure a balance of thinking and strategic development within the National Digital Library. It will help us to position it as a key knowledge-building and learning-for-life resource for New Zealand."

Ms Carnaby said she is delighted with the two latest appointments. "Both Mr Reynolds and Mr Knight have national and international reputations traversing citizens-created Web 2.0 content through the presentation of digital memory.

"The National Library can now boast a trio of the best thinkers in New Zealand."

ENDS

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