Save our Supercity Librarians petition

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samanthafoo

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#213838 14-Apr-2017 13:54

Hi,

To anyone from Auckland on the Geekzone forum I thought of sharing this with you guys.

I don't know if you heard on the news but this has been going around in the news: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/328543/auckland-council-confirms-74-staff-to-go-from-libraries.

It has saddened and shocked some Aucklanders but there is an online petition going around of a late. My friends and I have signed it and if there is anyone of you who are frequent library users in Auckland, feel free to sign it and pass it forward to friends, neighbours, parents, schools, community associations and your teachers. Here is the link to the petition: https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/save-our-super-city-librarians

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#1764381 14-Apr-2017 14:28

Not sure I actually see a problem to petition about. No libraries will be closing and no opening hours will be reduced. Positions that are surplus to requirements and redundant should be removed. To do so seems fiscally responsible, which is an unusual undertaking in any level of Government, and should be applauded.

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#1764398 14-Apr-2017 15:10

I agree with @cadman

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#1764404 14-Apr-2017 15:21

As an Auckland ratepayer, I'm in favour of a 'smaller' City Hall so bring it on.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Geektastic

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#1764423 14-Apr-2017 16:04

If they are anything like the so-called librarians who run our library, let them go with a smile.

Our library is cross between a kindergarten and a children's playground: it bears not the slightest resemblance to a library aside of having a few books in it. They even charge 50c to borrow any fiction not written by a New Zealand author....

mattwnz

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#1764497 14-Apr-2017 19:24

Geektastic:

If they are anything like the so-called librarians who run our library, let them go with a smile.

Our library is cross between a kindergarten and a children's playground: it bears not the slightest resemblance to a library aside of having a few books in it. They even charge 50c to borrow any fiction not written by a New Zealand author....

Aren't you getting a brand new multi million dollar library tacked onto the side of a restored old town hall? Didn't know about the 50c fee to to borrow a non NZ fiction book, that sounds weird.

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#1764587 14-Apr-2017 23:03

mattwnz:

Geektastic:

If they are anything like the so-called librarians who run our library, let them go with a smile.

Our library is cross between a kindergarten and a children's playground: it bears not the slightest resemblance to a library aside of having a few books in it. They even charge 50c to borrow any fiction not written by a New Zealand author....

Aren't you getting a brand new multi million dollar library tacked onto the side of a restored old town hall? Didn't know about the 50c fee to to borrow a non NZ fiction book, that sounds weird.

Sadly we are, despite my suggestion to the former Mayor that we bulldoze the useless town hall and flog the site for housing.

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#1764595 14-Apr-2017 23:55

@cadman: Not sure I actually see a problem to petition about.

@Linux: I agree ...

To quote from the article: "However, the public service union said the job cuts would make it harder to maintain existing services. Public Service Association national secretary Glenn Barclay said, while its members welcomed the digital shift, the changes would be disruptive for them."

As you can see, there are negative consequences. Is this the right place to save $1.8mil? Could that & more be saved anywhere else? We need communal indoor spaces as much as we need outdoor domains for group activities. Many a kid has grown up with the "free" services offered by a library. Having sufficient support staff available so that all stations are manned, services are running smoothly and patrons are encouraged and helped is definitely worthwhile.

@samanthafoo: Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

robjg63

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#1764623 15-Apr-2017 08:57

While I sympathise with the staff, I was actually in the Auckland central library just before Christmas and wandered around for a few minutes. It seemed that nearly everyone there was either using a power point to charge their phone/tablet or using the library computers or just using the free wifi. I realise that this is part of the public services that libraries now provide, but it did make me think that the traditional role of librarians must have changed quite a bit. Maybe they really don't need so many....

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

cadman

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#1764686 15-Apr-2017 12:14

IcI:

@cadman: Not sure I actually see a problem to petition about.

@Linux: I agree ...

To quote from the article: "However, the public service union said the job cuts would make it harder to maintain existing services. Public Service Association national secretary Glenn Barclay said, while its members welcomed the digital shift, the changes would be disruptive for them."

As you can see, there are negative consequences. Is this the right place to save $1.8mil? Could that & more be saved anywhere else? We need communal indoor spaces as much as we need outdoor domains for group activities. Many a kid has grown up with the "free" services offered by a library. Having sufficient support staff available so that all stations are manned, services are running smoothly and patrons are encouraged and helped is definitely worthwhile.

@samanthafoo: Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Well, of course the PSA would say that but just that they say something doesn't make it true and in this case I see no reason why it would be. Their workload must be getting lighter by virtue of this digital age alone which anyone under 50 should be well acquainted with using, if they've bothered to take an interest and the time to engage with it.

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#1765056 16-Apr-2017 15:56

robjg63: ... but it did make me think that the traditional role of librarians must have changed quite a bit....

cadman:

IcI: ... As you can see, there are negative consequences. ...

Well, of course the PSA would say that but just that they say something doesn't make it true and in this case I see no reason why it would be. Their workload must be getting lighter by virtue of this digital age alone which anyone under 50 should be well acquainted with using, if they've bothered to take an interest and the time to engage with it.

Yes, the role of the traditional librarian has changed over the years. Sixty years ago, we had human computers, now they fit on your wrist. I would disagree with "their workload must be getting lighter ..." part of your quote though. Have you recently actually been into a library? Yeah sure, the digital age has made it easier to scan the library books in & out thanks to the RFID readers. The librarians now have to deal with USB drives & SD cards that the public bring in to print their documents on the multi-functional printers, they have to provide computer support to those that have trouble using the public computers. AFAIK, they rent out projectors and DVDs. I can order a library from the North Shore and it will be delivered to my eastern Auckland library within days. Somebody has to find that book on the shelf, ship it and notify me that it has arrived.

I am merely asking, is this the optimal place to save $1.8 mil?

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

nakedmolerat

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#1765079 16-Apr-2017 16:30

@lcl agreed. So much so I think Auckland needs to trim the fat, just to save 1.8mil seems like not worth the effort or the right place to do.

They have regular kids activities etc. In fact, this has been reduced to a mere 2-3 days a week only since the last restructure.

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#1765080 16-Apr-2017 16:35

Would be plenty of people working in HR and communications at the council who could be gotten rid of. And all of the duplication caused by having all of those different CCOs that can't even talk to each over. The Auckland council has ridiculously high staff numbers considering that library services are about the only service that hasn't been sub contacted out to private companies.

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#1765088 16-Apr-2017 17:02

nakedmolerat: @lcl agreed. So much so I think Auckland needs to trim the fat, just to save 1.8mil seems like not worth the effort or the right place to do.

They have regular kids activities etc. In fact, this has been reduced to a mere 2-3 days a week only since the last restructure.

Libraries are not kindergartens.

Rikkitic

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#1765089 16-Apr-2017 17:11

Geektastic:
nakedmolerat: @lcl agreed. So much so I think Auckland needs to trim the fat, just to save 1.8mil seems like not worth the effort or the right place to do.

They have regular kids activities etc. In fact, this has been reduced to a mere 2-3 days a week only since the last restructure.

Libraries are not kindergartens.

No, they are community centres with an important educational role. Anything that encourages children to read and develop inquiring minds is an asset to be treasured. There are other places for old people who find the presence of young ones disturbing.

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#1765091 16-Apr-2017 17:15

They just seem like a free WiFi hotspot to me

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