Ko te Tangata (For the People): The Challenge of Indigenizing Libraries in Aotearoa
Date
Authors
Blake, Michelle
Huatahi, Manuhiri
McDonald, Rangihurihia
Roberts, Sue
Tairi, Kim
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Abstract
Across the globe universities are reckoning with issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. In Aotearoa (New Zealand), conversations have centered around decolonization and indigenization to assist with diversifying the workforce, reducing inequities and building inclusive cultures. This article presents case studies from three libraries and their steps toward indigenization. While each is traversing a unique path, and at different stages, they share common themes. Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) forms the basis of the work and sets the tone for reciprocal partnerships between Māori (indigenous peoples of Aotearoa) communities and the respective libraries. Themes of recruitment and retention of Māori staff, the commitment of senior leaders to indigenization and allyship, and the active promotion of te reo Māori (Māori language) and tikanga Māori (Māori convention, practice, protocols) are explored. Key lessons learned throughout each library’s indigenization journey form the basis of a challenge to other leaders in how they might take action toward indigenization within their own institutions.Description
Keywords
46 Information and Computing Sciences, 4610 Library and Information Studies, 8.1 Organisation and delivery of services, 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, 0807 Library and Information Studies, Indigenization, decolonization, academic libraries, te ao Māori, recruitment
Source
New Review of Academic Librarianship, ISSN: 1361-4533 (Print); 1740-7834 (Online), Informa UK Limited, 30(2-3), 251-272. doi: 10.1080/13614533.2023.2299841
Publisher's version
Rights statement
© 2024 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.