Books go to Maori readers

Tu Tangata, Issue 35, 1 April 1987, Page 42

Books go to Maori readers

The National Library is to employ Maori staff in its Regional Services Division to identify and develop programmes specifically for rural adult Maori people. It is also to stock more books with a Maori perspective, and implement a pilot project of service to Kohanga Reo. The moves are part of a programme of major changes to the National Library’s rural services announced by the Minister of Education, Mr Marshall. The three-year programme involves the phasing out of National Library book-van deliveries to small rural communities, the development of fullservice libraries in rural schools and increased support for borough libraries. The library’s Country Library Service has never been substantially reviewed since its inception in May 1938. The ministerial review on which the changes are based found that library service access for rural adult Maori

people is very likely inappropriate and inadequate. Ninety eight percent of the country’s 658 rural community librarians were Pakeha. Maori use of community libraries would depend on the location of the library; its opening hours; the attitude of the community librarian and her/his own relationship with Maori people in the community. Field librarians (drivers of the bookvans) were often unable to meet demand for material relating to taha Maori because the resources on the book-vans were insufficient. The problem was most obvious in Northland, the East Cape and Bay of Plenty. One of the major findings of the review was that the National Library must, as a priority, identify and take action to meet the specific needs of rural adult Maori people. Maori staff will be employed to establish programmes. The National Library also aims to spend 12 percent of its Regional Services Division resources budget on

material with a Maori perspective, including material written in Maori. The review also recommended that consideration be given in 1987 to developing a pilot project of a Maorioriented mobile library service to the rural marae and other appropriate places in Northland. If successful, the project could be extended to other areas. Rural kohanga reo will receive National Library service if a pilot project in Northland proves successful. The review said that as pre-school groups, rural kohanga reo should be entitled to assitance from the School Library Service in the same way as rural kindergartens and playcentres are. The Northland pilot project involves the initial distribution of books to 65 rural kohanga reo serving a total of 1300 children. The project is being directed by Te Kohanga Reo National Trust. If successful, it will be extended by 1990 to all rural kohanga reo throughout the country.