Libraries Big Vision Day a success
Hutt City Libraries welcomed more than 70 senior managers, chief executives, elected officials and library managers from across the Greater Wellington region and further afield to an inaugural Big Vision Day last Friday.
Head of Transformation (Customer and Services) at Manchester City Council and President of the Society of Chief Librarians in England, Wales and Ireland, Ms Nicky Parker covered how her city reinvented its library services including the rebuilding of more than 20 new libraries.
Charged with finding savings of £170 million, Ms Parker talked about how that had been achieved in two years while providing much needed employment and education across the city. Ms Parker's challenge to the audience was to be brave enough to have and implement a huge vision.
Mr Brett O'Riley, Deputy Chief Executive of the newly formed Ministry of Science and Innovation and former Chief Executive of the NZICT Group, spoke passionately about the need to link young people with businesses in New Zealand.
Mr O'Riley's message to the audience was there is a significant and tangible opportunity to grow economically vibrant communities by developing partnerships between business, young people, tertiary and local government and community spaces.
A presentation by Mr Steve Bramley, Director of SGL Group, made it clear that if a vision is big enough it will generate and achieve the funding required to be created and sustained.
Speaking about the current funding and sponsorship climate in New Zealand, Mr Bramley gave practical information on how the funding of significant projects can be funded by the community for the gain of all.
Making use of technologies proved to be easy, with Nicky Parker's presentation being simulcast to Western Australian public libraries and Brett O'Riley delivering his 45 minute session live via Skype from Auckland.