Get it right @ your library
Get it right @ your library
PRESS RELEASE
28
August 2002
Manukau Libraries are celebrating Library Week 2002, from 8-14 September. The week aims to raise public awareness of the importance of libraries in providing resources, services and programmes for the community. The theme for the week is ‘Get it right @ your library’.
Libraries throughout New Zealand will be celebrating the week with a range of activities and events to promote libraries in the community.
“The theme ‘Get it right @ your library‘ is there to prompt people that your library is the place for accurate, timely, relevant information”, says Chris Szekely, Manager, Manukau Libraries. “That may mean accessing information through books, magazines, journals and newspapers, or finding information on our website, where people have access to on-line journal & magazine databases and recommended website links.”
“What is crucial, is that the information you find and ultimately use, is actually ‘right’. Libraries have an important role to play in helping people manage the information overload that the Internet is a key contributor to. We are finding that people jump on the net to find information, but may actually be reading from a website created by a nine-year-old. People are often bewildered by receiving thousands of suggested websites when they’re searching for something particular.”
“We can assist with increasing information literacy, providing people with the skills to locate, extract and assess information that meets their requirements.”
Library Week is an excellent opportunity for students, parents and teachers to revisit their ‘information literacy’ ability, and if necessary, take the time to learn some new skills at their local library.
Times can also be scheduled for class visits, to upskill students in basic library skills. For more information contact your local Manukau library or visit their website www.manukau-libraries.govt.nz
Manukau City Councils’ libraries will be launching two new projects for 2002, during Library Week. On Tuesday 10th September they will unveil their updated website, which focuses on the key areas: Maori, Child & Youth, Heritage & Community.
The new website will be fully bilingual with all aspects of the site translated into Maori. It will feature new pages for children and teenagers where they can access homework help, recommended websites and more. People can search Manukau Libraries’ vast collections online through the library catalogue and can request items via the website. They can also look up their borrower information, to see when their books are due back.
Manukau Libraries are putting a lot of effort into making sure that library information and services are available in a way that is convenient to the community. The website is a one way of achieving this.
The following day, on Wednesday 11, the libraries’ new children’s club, the Tusitara Club, will be launched at Finlayson Park Primary School. The libraries mobile library, which features huge images of Tusitara, will be there and students will find out all about the club and other library services.
The libraries are also running a sports competition with Manukau leisure and pool centres during the month of September. Everyone that borrows a sports book during the promotion will go into the draw to win one of 20 easy to read sports books. A bonus draw of movie tickets and tickets to the Propecia Rally of New Zealand Superstage is on offer to anyone who joins the library during September.
Ends
Profile of Manukau Libraries new website
Key features
Maori
- only
fully bilingual library website in NZ
- links to a
complete list of Maori websites in NZ
- recommendations
and resources for whakapapa tracing
Child & youth
-
homework portal
- links to other homework
sites
Heritage and community
- Manukau’s history
-
Historical photos/images
- Advice on tracing family
tree
- Community Information Database
- Links to other
agencies in ward
24/7
- Search complete catalogue
online, request books delivered to library of choice for
collection
- Access to full text magazine & journal
articles through electronic databases such as EbscoHost and
Electric Library
- Keep an eye on books out, when due
back through borrower information
The website aims to provide solutions for people trying to access information on library services, their community and much more….
For example:
Problem:
I just don’t have the time to look through shelves of books at the library to find the one I want’
Solution:
Go to www.manukau-libraries.govt.nz and search by author, title or subject for the books you want. You can then request the books you want and collect them from the library closest to your work or home. Simple.
Problem:
“I want to explore my whakapapa, where do I start?”
Solution:
www.manukau-libraries.govt.nz is the only library website that is fully bilingual. It offers advice, suggestions and recommended books for people wanting to trace their whakapapa, provides links to all Maori websites in New Zealand and all in Te-Reo or English.
Problem:
“But I don’t have textbooks and study guides at home to help me with my homework.”
Solution:
Check out the Teen Site at www.manukau-libraries.govt.nz for practical tips on homework help along with links to other top NZ homework help sites.
Problem:
“I want to find out more about my community, about Manukau. Where do I go?”
Solution:
Get to www.manukau-libraries.govt.nz Manukau's history, tips for tracing your family tree and more. Want to find out about volunteer agencies or community groups in your area? Search the Community Information Database for a listing of community groups and organisations in your area.
Problem:
“I can never remember which day my library books are due back”
Solution:
All books issued
will have a receipt that details when your books are due
back. If you misplace this, simply go to
www.manukau-libraries.govt.nz and go to borrower
information. Type in your library card number and PIN and
you’ll see which books you have out and when they are due
back.
Simple.