At EPIC we receive quite a few suggestions from schools about adding e-resources to the current collection. We welcome these suggestions and feedback. However, this is a good opportunity to explain how EPIC works…and why we are unable to immediately add new products for New Zealand schools.
EPIC is a purchasing consortium involving over 160 New Zealand libraries as well as the Ministry of Education on behalf of all New Zealand schools. EPIC negotiates consortium-licensing agreements with electronic resource vendors on behalf of these libraries. The member libraries then choose packages of these resources to subscribe to annually through EPIC. This provides the member libraries with significantly better pricing per product than they would be able to negotiate individually. The Ministry of Education’s subscription to the EPIC resources on behalf of New Zealand schools works the same way as New Zealand libraries. Each year EPIC offers the Ministry of Education subscription and pricing options on packages of e-resources. The Ministry of Education then makes a decision based on what products are on offer, what their budget will allow and how well the existing products are being used. We know that a lot of exciting new e-resource products have recently been released and we would love to offer them to New Zealand schools through EPIC. For this reason, we will be working with the Ministry of Education to review the current EPIC resources and assess new resources to find the best possible fit that we are able to negotiate for New Zealand schools. So, watch this space…we may be calling on your help very soon to trial some products… Cheers Senga White Schools' Representative EPIC Governance Group
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International companies provide all the resources currently available through EPIC for New Zealand schools. This means that most of these resources aim to have as broad an international appeal as possible. Therefore, aside from the Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre, New Zealand content is not a primary focus.
However, as part of their licensing agreements with EPIC, these companies have made a commitment to increase and improve the New Zealand content available in their resources. Here are some recent examples of what they are doing: Encyclopaedia Britannica – at the beginning of this year they commissioned a writer specifically to add New Zealand curriculum related content. Oxford University Press – have hired an Advisory Editor to update the New Zealand art content in Oxford Art Online. This is scheduled to occur in 2011. Gale Cengage – are working on sourcing New Zealand biographies to add into Biography In Context (previously known as Biography Resource Centre). Gale Cengage are also eager to hear any suggestions that you may have. If do have biography suggestions, please e-mail these to Gale Cengage’s New Zealand representative, Liza Fisher [email protected] Cheers Senga White Schools' Representative EPIC Goverance Group As well as having a fantastic celebration to mark SLANZA's first 10 years, we also had our 2010 AGM. For those of you who were unable to make it, here is a link to the Annual Report I tabled at the AGM.
http://slanza.org.nz/docs/AGMreport2010.pdf Regards Senga Recently there has been some discussion about how to advocate getting material updated or added to EPIC databases. The best possible way to do this is to contact the companies directly with your feedback. This ensures that the right information gets to people that can make the changes.
The EPIC Manager, Paula Banks, is happy to pass any of your suggestions on to the company representatives for you. All you need to do is send her an e-mail at [email protected], including the name of the resource and the feedback you would like to provide. You can also cut out the middleman and contact the company representatives directly. Contacts for the EPIC resources can be found on the general EPIC website http://epic.org.nz . A list of all the EPIC resources (including those available through the Ministry of Education subscription on behalf of New Zealand Schools) can be found through this link http://epic.org.nz/the-databases/all-databases. If you click on the link to the database you are interested in providing feedback about, you will find the General Support contact for the product. Also…the database pages on the EPIC website are a good place to go if you are looking for links to training, promotional and support material on each of the EPIC resources. As always, if you have any questions about EPIC feel free to contact me as well. Senga Schools' Representative EPIC Governance Group What an awesome time those of us in Auckland - and via video conference in Christchurch - had on Friday afternoon at the 10 year celebration party for SLANZA. A big thank you to the organising team who did a fantiastic job of organising a really lovely event.
It was very special to have all the past presidents speak about their time in office and share their highlights. What a fantastic, enthusiastic bunch we are who make up the SLANZA family and this was very evident from the group who gathered together on Friday and of course listening to the reminiscences of all. Watch out for a full report of the event, photos and what the speakers had to say in our upcoming edition of the SLANZA Collected magazine. Good luck for the local celebrations that are still to happen in some of our regions. Happy birthday SLANZA! Now - bring on the next 10!! Senga White SLANZA President I’m thrilled to be able to announce that Fiona Mackie, Library Manager at St Cuthbert’s College in Auckland has been elected unopposed as the next President-Elect of SLANZA . No other nominations were received. So, congratulations to Fiona, who will become the next president of SLANZA at the 2011 AGM. Fiona is a professional, experienced and well respected librarian and SLANZA will be in good hands with her at the helm.
I wish her all the best as she takes on this challenge of National Executive for the next four years. Senga Nominations are now being sought for the position ofSLANZA President-Elect for the 2010-11 term of office. This person would become SLANZA President at our bi-annual conference in July 2011 till July 2013. Previous experience at National Executive level is considered desirable.
The SLANZA constitution requires the National Executive to call for nominations from our membership. Nominators and Nominees must be current members of SLANZA. As there are no current National Executive members able to take up this position, National Executive wish to nominate Fiona Mackie, Library Manager at St Cuthbert’s College, Auckland and she has consented to this nomination. Nominations are to be made on the form attached and close with the Returning Officer, SLANZA, PO Box 631, Palmerston North 4440 at 5pm on Friday 22nd October 2010. These should also be emailed to [email protected]. Regards Senga White SLANZA President ![]() Well, IASL conference was a fantastic experience! The venue was amazing, the speakers were diverse and interesting, it was well organised and it was great to be able to share the experience with so many New Zealanders. This is Donna and myself enjoying the trade stands and superb morning tea on day 2 with Jane, Adaire and Joanna. Having now attended my first international conference I have gained a new-found respect for all of our members who over the last 10 years have been involved in making our SLANZA conferences a reality. You are all awesome and should be very proud of your acheivements. They are truly world-class events and would stand up to anything being offered internationally. In some cases we would be leading the field. It was brought home to me again just how fortunate we are here in New Zealand with the calibre of people we have working in our school libraries. Watch out for the article on the IASL conference which will appear in our next SLANZA Collected Magazine where there will be tidbits from everyone who attended - their highlights and must-do's. ![]() This next picture is just for Gerri and Fiona!! You know how much I loved making this little "bunyip\avatar". I wonder if it sold at the auction table!! Hope to see lots of you at the 10 year SLANZA celebration at the end of the month!! Senga SLANZA encourages and rewards excellence in school libraries, recognising the success and achievement of those working in and with school libraries, with a series ofawards.
SLANZA also offers study grants each year, to those working in school library teams. Each study grant will cover the cost of a paper, course or module (up to $550.00) offered by an approved library education provider. For more information about education providers, visit the SLANZA wiki. The closing date for submitting study grant applications is Friday 22nd October 2010. The closing date for nominations for SLANZA Awards will be notified shortly. The Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 29 October at the Auckland premises of the National Library of New Zealand, 8 Stanley Street, Parnell.
The meeting will begin at approximately 6.30pm, at the conclusion of SLANZA’s 10 Year celebrations being held at the same venue. F M Gibbons Administration Officer |
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