MetroNet

In March 2008, Metronet public library managers made the historic decision to voluntarily wind up Metronet as an incorporated society to make way for the establishment of the Association of Public Library Managers (APLM) which in December 2007 received overwhelming support from public library managers across New Zealand.

See their website publiclibrariesofnewzealand.org.nz

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Press Releases:

• New Zealand’s libraries band together - 24 February 2005
• New Public Libraries Portal A World First - 13 September 2002

Submissions:

• Submission on the review of the Local Government Act, 1974, 30 August 2001

Memorandum of Understanding between National Library of New Zealand and Public Libraries of New Zealand.
Signed Tuesday 7 September 2004.

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In New Zealand, public libraries are provided by Local Government and funded from rates (local property taxes).
Associated organisations are:

• Local Government New Zealand
• Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (LIANZA)
• New Zealand Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM)

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MetroNet was the society of New Zealand Public Libraries serving populations of 50,000 or more.
Nineteen libraries were members at dissolution:

Auckland City Libraries Christchurch City Libraries Dunedin Public Libraries Hamilton City Libraries Hastings District Libraries Hutt City Libraries

Invercargill City Libraries Manukau Libraries Napier Public Library New Plymouth District Libraries North Shore Libraries Palmerston North City Library Porirua City Library

Rodney District Libraries Rotorua Public Library Tauranga District Libraries Waitakere Libraries & Information Services Wellington City Libraries Whangarei District Library

MetroNet existed to:

• Improve standards of service
• Enable joint ventures and consortia projects
• Share information
• Raise the profile of public libraries in government and business
• Lobby on behalf of members
• Facilitate the upskilling of Library Managers

MetroNet Objectives & Society Rules

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