VALA2022 Keynote 6 Tairi

Me te toroa i te tau ana i te au: riding the currents in uncertain times

VALA2022 KEYNOTE SESSION 6
Thursday 16 June 2022, 13:00 – 14:00

Kim Tairi
  • Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland University of Technology)
  • Kaitoha Puka (University Librarian)

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View the presentation recording and slides here:

 

Abstract

Me te toroa i te tau ana i te au is a Māori whakataukī. Doctor Hinemoa Elder describes whakataukī (Māori proverbs) as nuggets of wisdom that provide life lessons, guidance, notes of caution and even comfort. This whakataukī is about the toroa or albatross. The bird that I voted for in the most important and hotly contested competition of the year in Aotearoa – Bird of the Year! The whakataukī can be translated to “like the albatross nestled upon the current.”

However, the meaning of the whakataukī is about manifesting resilience. Toroa are majestic, robust and resolute. This is something I have seen repeatedly in the empathetic way that libraries globally have responded to the pandemic. Our resilience comes from knowing our purpose – to work for and with the communities we are part of. During this kōrero, I will share stories of resilience. How technology, creativity, hard-work and amazing people have combined to keep services running and the connection to each other and the community alive. Along the way I will talk about leadership, my return to Aotearoa NZ and the work we do together at AUT.

Biography

Ko Maungatautari te maunga; Ko Waikato te awa; Ko Waikato te iwi; Ko Kim Tairi tōku ingoa. He Kaitoha Puku ahau ki Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau e mahi ana.

Kim Tairi is an indigenous, intersectional feminist and librarian. Her career spans more than 25 years in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The Kaitoha Puka (University Librarian) at Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau (AUT) she is Aotearoa’s first Māori University Librarian and a proud Nuku Woman.

Kim is an avid social media user and fashion-lover. She is going to share some of the joys and challenges of leading a library during a pandemic.

 

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VALA2012 Session 10 Reid

VALA2012 Session 10 Reid

Opening up the playground: supporting library staff to learn through play

VALA2012 CONCURRENT SESSION 10: eM-powering Professionals
Thursday 9 February 2012, 10:30 – 11:00
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2012-proceedings/vala2012-session-10-reid

Helen Reid and Kim Tairi

Swinburne University of Technology, Vic

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VALA2012VALA Peer Reviewed
Watch the presentation View the presentation on the VALA2012 GigTV channel

Thursday, February 09, 2012, 10:30 AM AUSEDT, 25 Minutes 7 Seconds.

Abstract

Technology is the backbone of our libraries. Keeping up with the pace of change in emerging technologies is the challenge. It’s time to reassess how we spread emerging technologies throughout our workplaces. The success of the “Learning 2.0” programs around the world points to informal learning as being the way forward. Staff are increasingly being told to ‘go and play’ with emerging technology. This paper will explore the barriers and enablers of informal learning in libraries. It provides real-life examples of how to overcome barriers and create an environment conducive to spreading emerging technologies.

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License.

VALA2008 Session 14 Tairi

VALA Peer Reviewed PaperFairy tales and Elggs: social networking with student rovers in learning commons

VALA 2008 CONCURRENT SESSION 14: Social Networking
Thursday 7 February 2008 14:00 – 14:30
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2008-proceedings/vala2008-session-14-tairi

Kim Tairi

Information Services Manager, Prahran, Swinburne University
http://www.swinburne.edu.au/lib

Rob McCormack

Lecturer, Language and Learning, Victoria University
http://www.vu.edu.au

Peodair Leihy

Research Fellow, Postcompulsory Education Centre, Victoria University
http://www.vu.edu.au

Peter Ring

Campus Librarian, City Flinders, Victoria University
http://library.vu.edu.au

Please tag your comments, tweets, and blob posts about this session: #VALA2008

Abstract

The Learning (or Information) Commons concept has transformed and extended library services in universities worldwide and most university libraries have adopted aspects of the concept. At Victoria University (VU) the Commons has co-located related student services. Student Rovers are a key feature of the service offered. To build an online community of practice for the Rovers, VU experimented with open source social networking software. A central lesson is that, while web-based social networking is essential, the usability and reliability of any particular software is less important than the way in which such tools are used by participants. This paper will outline preliminary results of VU’s evaluation of the pilot and dispel some of the myths and fairy tales around using social networking software in an educational context.