1. Introduction
2. Scope and Definition
3. Mandate
4. Strategic Context
5. Global Focus Aotearoa clients
6. Collections principles
7. Physical library
   1. General Lending Collection
   2. Reference Collection
   3. Serials Collection
   4. Audio-visual Collection
8. Weblinks
   1. Aotearoa section
   2. Pacific Focus section
   3. Take Action section
   4. Home page
9. Development Work Database
10. Pacific Development Glossary and Acronym Guide
11. Related policies
12. Appendix I: Global Focus Aotearoa’s list of Pacific countries
13. Appendix II: Take Action Policy

Global Focus Aotearoa Collection Policy

 

1. Introduction

Global Focus Aotearoa provides information services to non-government organisations (NGOs), government departments, universities, practitioners operating in the field of overseas aid and development as well as the general public of Aotearoa New Zealand.

 

This collection policy is intended to ensure the purpose and selection criteria of Global Focus Aotearoa collections are transparent, accountable and publicly available.

 

2. Scope and definition

This policy covers the Global Focus Aotearoa physical library and Global Focus Aotearoa’s website.

 

The core of Global Focus Aotearoa’s physical library was originally donated by a number of Aotearoa international development non-governmental organisations: Latin America Committee, Volunteer Service Abroad, International Development Education and Action, the Africa Centre. In addition the collection has benefited from ongoing generous donations by NGOs and individuals active in the development field, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and NZAID. The collective pooling of resources for mutual and public benefit was the original impetus for the Global Focus Aotearoa.

 

Global Focus Aotearoa’s Weblinks is a constantly updated theme based online collection of searchable links on development topics.

 

This collection policy will be reviewed every two years.

 

3. Mandate

The mandate for the collection policy is established by the Global Focus Aotearoa’s key outcome 3 identified in its Strategic Plan July 2007– June 2011.

 

There is an increase in the understanding of development and global issues amongst people involved in international aid and development, and the public in Aotearoa New Zealand.

 

Further guidance is provided by the three objectives identified as part of outcome 3:

 

To provide and promote information on people-centred, sustainable development to: development NGOs, other NGOs, development consultants and practitioners, tertiary institutions and government departments.

 

To provide and promote information on global issues to the media, libraries, resource centres, community organisations and the public

 

To proactively provide information on how to participate in creating a just world.

 

Global Focus Aotearoa’s physical library and online Weblinks are a key strategy to achieve these objectives.

 

4. Strategic Context

Global Focus Aotearoa is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation governed by an independent charitable trust. The Global Focus Aotearoa is core funded by NZAID Nga Hoe Tuputupu-mai-taiwhiti (The New Zealand Agency for International Development).

 

The Global Focus Aotearoa’s work is guided at all times by a set of core values which recognise that development must be people-centred, participatory, holistic and sustainable. The Global Focus Aotearoa also is working to ensure the obligations of Te Tiriti o Waitangi are reflected in our practices and policies. In addition we take a human rights approach to development.

 

The Global Focus Aotearoa is part of a community of Aotearoa New Zealand and Pacific international development NGOs. We are a member of the Council for International Development (CID) and we have strategic relationships with other Pacific and Aotearoa New Zealand NGOs.

 

5. Global Focus Aotearoa clients

We aim to provide a collection relevant to the needs of our client groups. We hope to hold information relevant to our diverse client group. This constitutes non-government organisations (NGOs), government departments, universities, practitioners operating in the field of overseas aid and development as well as the general public of Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly those interested in global issues.

 

6. Collections principles

General

Our collection policy is guided by the Global Focus Aotearoa organisational mission, values and objectives.

We prioritise the collection and holding of information that:

• emphasises information emanating from communities and/or persons living and working in a particular developing country over outside information about that country
• is in line with our organisational values
• allows the voices of the most vulnerable to be heard
• provides balance to information and views widely available in New Zealand
• encourages critical thinking
• empowers users to take action to create a just world

Content

The key focus of Global Focus Aotearoa’s collection is development and globalissues. We take a broad and holistic definition of development recognizing the complexity and changing nature of issues involved in social, cultural, spiritual and economic development.

 

Geographical Scope

We are grounded in Aotearoa. This means we will promote information that acknowledges:

• our mandate to provide information on international development and global issues to the New Zealand public and the New Zealand development sector
• the historical, geographical and cultural connection of Aotearoa to its Pacific community
• the links between development in Aotearoa and development in the rest of the world
• the role that Maori play in international indigenous and First Peoples movements

We have a focus on the Pacific Islands (see Appendix 1 for list of Pacific Island countries) This means:

• we will provide country specific information on Pacific Island nations
• we will provide current information and major development news on countries within the Pacific
• we develop partnerships and other relationships with organisations (especially NGOs) in the Pacific and actively encourage an exchange of information with groups in the Pacific

We cover Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East

• We do not provide country specific information on these countries but cover major ideas, topics, themes around development emanating from these regions.
• We seek to support the efforts of Aotearoa NZ development practitioners, both governmental and non-governmental, who have a particular involvement in South East Asia through providing information specific to this region
• To support our aim to ensure the voices of the most vulnerable get heard we also will provide region specific information on Sub-Saharan Africa

Organisational scope

Global Focus Aotearoa will retain in depth information on organisations and campaigns in which it has a strategic involvement or partnership. These include:

• Family Planning International Development New Zealand (FPAID)
• Asia Pacific Alliance and the International Conference on Population and Development
• Council for International Development
• Save the Children
• Tearaway Youth Magazine
• YWCA Aotearoa NZ
• Amnesty International

Currency

The primary aim of Global Focus Aotearoa’s collection is to provide collections that serve the immediate professional, research and personal interests of development practitioners and the general public. Our collections will be up-to-date and relevant to those currently working in the area of development.

 

While some titles are retained for their on-going usefulness Global Focus Aotearoa is not an archival or historic collection.

 

Selection

Using the guidance of the policy collection selection of material for physical and online collections is usually made by subject specialists and / or information and library specialists that make up Global Focus Aotearoa staff.

 

We also welcome suggestions for additions to our collection by our clients. The expertise of the development community and the suggestions they make is recognised as an important contribution to ensuring the dynamic and relevant nature of our collections.

 

Disclaimer

Global Focus Aotearoa reserves final say on inclusion and exclusion of all material in its physical library and online Weblinks. Global Focus Aotearoa is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of information provided in its online or physical collections.

 

7. Physical library

 

The Global Focus Aotearoa library is a free library open for use by all people residing in Aotearoa New Zealand. In order to ensure we remain as accessible as possible both membership and borrowing of items is free of charge. We aim to provide a unique collection of physical resources on development and global issues that is of interest to the general public as well as development specialists including NGOs. We recognise a role in providing information not otherwise available in Aotearoa NZ.

 

7.1. General lending collection

 

The aim of the general lending collection is to provide accessible physical resources that include:

• balance in subject coverage across the development discipline
• material in-line with our organisational values that promotes people-centred, participatory, holistic and sustainable development
• major development reports
• major publications of the United Nations, the World Bank, the IMF and other key multilateral agencies
• major publications of NZAID and other key regional donors
• major publications of key regional and international NGOs
• proceedings of key regional and international development conference proceedings

 

 

The general lending collection is made up primarily of books, reports, and conference proceedings that are available for loan.

 

The collection is divided into major development subject areas as well as country and region specific areas (see Appendix 2).

 

7.2. Reference collection

The aim of the reference collection is to:

• be balanced in subject coverage across the development discipline
• satisfy low through advanced level reference enquiries
• provide on-hand recent key development information and statistics

The reference collection is a non-lending collection of material held in the library available for library visitors and Global Focus Aotearoa staff and able to be used to help staff answer distance reference enquiries

The reference collection includes:

• Amnesty International report
• Human development report
• The Indigenous world (part of IWGIA subscription)
• Landmine monitor report (International Campaign to Ban Landmines)
• Pacific human development report
• Reality of Aid
• State of the world (Worldwatch Institute)
• State of the world’s children (UNICEF)
• Vital signs (Worldwatch Institute)
• World development report (World Bank)
• World disasters report (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies)
• The world guide ( New Internationalist Publications Ltd )
• World resources ( The World Resources Institute )
• NZAID and VASS reports
• Reports produced by other development agencies
• Reports produced by international organizations such as the United Nations
• Directories of non-governmental organizations
• Selected statistical information on developing countries on trade and other topics

7.3. Serials collection

The aim of the serials collection is to:

• be balanced in subject coverage across the development discipline
• provide a range of material from popular serials, academic and research journals through to small civil society newsletters
• provide access to material not otherwise available in Aotearoa NZ
• provide access to serials from the Pacific region, particularly from community groups and civil society
• provide access to serials emanating from Aotearoa NZ development and international solidarity NGOs

The serials collection consists of among smaller publications, key development journals including:

• Appropriate Technology
• Cultural Survival Quarterly
• Development (SID)
• Development in Practice
• Gender and Development
• Indigenous Affairs
• LEISA: Magazine on Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture
• NACLA (North American Congress on Latin America) Report on the Americas
• New Internationalist
• Pacific Ecologist
• PLA notes
• Third World Economics
• Third World Resurgence
• Wire Amnesty International
• World Rivers review
• World Watch

7.4. Audio-visual collection

The aim of the audio-visual collection is to:

• be balanced in subject coverage across the development discipline
• encourage the general public to engage with development and global issues
• introduce global and development issues to new audiences
• reflect current interest in particular development or global themes
• where possible, include relevant titles that have shown or been popular in film festivals

The audio-visual collection includes video tapes, CD-ROMs, DVDs and audio cassettes. Where possible new purchases will be of DVDs.

 

8. Online Weblinks

 

The aim of the Weblinks database is to:

• allow users to quickly access key online development resources without having to search through the vast array of information on the internet.
• provide relevant and up-to date information for those currently involved in or interested in development and global issues
• maintain links to key development reports of ongoing interest or significance

Because there are not the same budget limitations our online collections is able to be more comprehensive than our physical collection. We maintain a mix of in-depth specialist information and information of relevance to those with a new or generalist interest. We link only to sites which are free for public use. We do not link to sites whose primary purpose is to promote a commercial service or product

 

Content of the online Weblinks will include:

• international development events, trends and debates
• major development related meetings
• international development campaigns
• major development reports

Weblinks allows users to suggest sites they consider useful for the Weblinks database. These will be accepted if they fall within the collection policy. Our users contributions are an important source of links for Weblinks and from mid-2005, users can choose to have names beside sites they have suggested.

 

8.1. Aotearoa Section

The Aotearoa section of the website fulfils 3 aims:

• to reflect our organisation’s commitment to being grounded in our home country
• to ensure relevance to our key client group (those living in Aotearoa NZ)
• to reflect our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi

The Aotearoa section of the website will include:

• Websites of Aotearoa NZ NGOs, international development related government sites, development practitioner sites
• Aotearoa NZ NGO press releases, campaigns, statements
• information on and critiques of Aotearoa NZ government position on international development, human rights and trade agreements and treaties
• analysis that places Aotearoa NZ human rights and development efforts in an international comparative context
• development information on Aotearoa NZ in context of international development issues and dialogue
• information on Maori development especially in context of international development and indigenous and cultural rights
• NZAID policy especially that currently open for submissions
• major local or international developments that are seen to affect development in Aotearoa NZ

8.2. Pacific Focus Section

The aim of the Pacific focus section of the website is to:

• reflect Global Focus Aotearoa’s focus on the Pacific
• reflect Global Focus Aotearoa’s place in the community of Pacific international development NGOs
• provide a portal to online information on Pacific development issues

The Pacific focus section of the website will include:

• websites of Pacific NGOs, international development related government sites, development practitioner sites, and
• links to key regional governmental and non-governmental organisations including
• links to key information relating to the Pacific Forum
• Pacific NGO campaigns
• information on and critiques of Pacific governments’ position on international development, human rights and trade agreements and treaties
• analysis that places Pacific human rights and development efforts in an international comparative context
• major local or international developments that are seen to affect development in the Pacific

See Appendix 1 for Global Focus Aotearoa’s list of Pacific Island countries.

 

8.3. Take Action Section

The aim of the Take Action section of the website is to:

• meet our organisational mission: informing and educating to empower people to take action to create a just world
• encourage users to critically engage with development issues
• provide information that can be used by those seeking to create a just world

 

The Take Action section of the website will include

• information on campaigns and actions that users, particularly Aotearoa NZ users can participate in
• forums where users can have input to development policy
• Topic specific and general resources for activists
• case studies of successful activism
• events where activists can increase their knowledge of a particular issue

8.4. Homepage

Each week the home page will highlight key features in the Weblinks..

Priority is given to items that:

• are inline with our organisational values
• have wide appeal (i.e. recent news items)
• provide information on significant events not easily available elsewhere
• emanates from groups who do not usually have a wide audience

9. Development Work Database

The aim of the Global Focus Aotearoa Jobs database is to provide a networking tool for our clients that assists them in both advertising and finding development employment opportunities. The Jobs database houses development related jobs, volunteer positions and internships, contracts and consultancies.

 

For specific details on the jobs database and terms and conditions of use click here.

 

10. Pacific Development Glossary and Acronym Guide

The aim of the Pacific Development Glossary and Acronym Guide is to:

• provide a comprehensive glossary and acronym guide for the Pacific region that supports those working and studying in the field of international development
• empower users through providing key reference information required to understand and critically analyse debate and discussion in the development field

The Glossary and Acronym Guide will include:

• (a) key international acronyms and terms in development including:
  • major United Nations conferences and organisations
  • other major development conferences and organisations
  • major non-governmental and intergovernmental organisations
  • major international donors particularly those funding in the Pacific
  • international and major regional non-governmental organisations
  • terms and acronyms which reflect current trends and debates within the development field
• (b) key Pacific acronyms and terms in development including:
  • major Pacific Island Forum and Commonwealth conferences and organisations
  • major Africa Pacific Carribean (APC) conferences and organisations
  • other major intergovernmental / regional conferences and organisations
  • major Pacific donor organisations
  • major, national and regional non-governmental organisations and umbrella organisations
  • terms and acronyms related to significant national and regional events, strategies and trends
  • terms and acronyms which reflect current trends and debates within Pacific development field

11. Related policies

Donations

Donations are an important source for the building of collections in a variety of subject areas. Global Focus Aotearoa accepts donated resources into its collections that are in line with the Collections Policy.

 

Unless there is prior arrangement, donated items that are no longer required will be offered to library clients and other libraries.

 

Permanent Loan

Permanent loan collections are collections that people and organisations loan to Global Focus Aotearoa on the understanding that Global Focus Aotearoa will, in the first instance, offer them back to the donor when they are no longer needed or if Global Focus is no longer in a position to hold the collections.

 

Collections that we currently have on permanent loan:

• Council for International Development
• Unicef NZ
• Amnesty International NZ
• Wellington Indymedia Collective

 

Copyright

While all reasonable attempts are made to ensure that no material in Global Focus Aotearoa collections breaches copyright, the ephemeral nature of some development related resources may mean we inadvertently breach copyright in our attempts to ensure material is publicly available. Any concerns regarding breach of copyright can be made directly to Global Focus Aotearoa and we will attempt to remedy the problem as soon as possible.

 

12. Appendix I

 

Global Focus Aotearoa ’s list of Pacific Island countries

Global Focus Aotearoa works to define the Pacific Island community as seen by those who live and work in that community:

• American Samoa
• Christmas Island
• Cook Islands
• Fiji
• French Southern Territories
• Guam
• Kanaky ( New Caledonia)
• Kiribti
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia , Federated States of
• Nauru
• Niue
• Norfolk
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Pitcairn Islands
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Te Ao Maohi ( French Polynesia)
• Tokelau
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu
• Wallis and Futuna

13. Appendix II

 

Global Focus Aotearoa Take Action Policy

 

1.0 Definition

Take Action is the provision of activities, options, and actions that Global Focus Aotearoa clients can engage in to help create a just world.The Global Focus Aotearoa defines a just world as:

A world where human rights are upheld and respected, where poverty is no longer tolerated, development is people-centred, holistic and sustainable, and we all recognise the interconnectivity of our lives and the world that we live in.

 

Take Action includes but is not limited to the following:

• Researching, reading, watching or listening to more information about development and global issues
• Exploring different perspectives on these issues
• Attending workshops, seminars, and conferences to learn more about these issues
• Discussing these issues in both informal and non-formal situations e.g. with friends or in  non-formal settings such as community groups 
• Changing personal behaviour as a result of learning about these issues
• Changing work and/or professional practice as a result of learning about these issues
• Working to influence organisational, local, national or international policy on these issues
• Actively participating in or contributing to awareness raising activities    
• Supporting campaigns on the issue e.g. signing on to petitions, taking part in lobbying or protest action(s)
• Forming groups or campaigns on the issue
• Working in paid or unpaid positions for organisations that are aligned to Global Focus Aotearoa values

2.0 Policy Statement

Take Action opportunities are provided in Global Focus Aotearoa publications, resources and services in order to further our vision and mission of creating a just world by increasing awareness and understanding of development, global issues, and global education.

 

Taking Action to create a just world may challenge the status quo and power relations. The Global Focus Aotearoa sees Take Action activities as an opportunity for people to contribute to a pluralistic society that embraces a diversity of spaces, actors, and institutional forms. However, the Global Focus Aotearoa also recognises that clients’ opinions and perspectives on development and global issues are often based on their own world view. Where possible, the Global Focus Aotearoa will provide Take Action opportunities that encourage the exploration of clients’ world views.

 

3.0 Guiding Standards

 

The following standards provide a framework within which Take Action options are considered before being included in our services, resources or publications.

 

a. Compatibility with the Global Focus Aotearoa’s values of:

• Human Rights
• Te Tiriti O Waitangi
• People-Centred Development
• A Holistic and Sustainable Approach to Development
• Transparency

b. Actions that may not help or may work against the creation of a just world are not included.This includes actions that do not respect the dignity of the recipients and / or reinforce stereotype, or actions that are not based on non-violent, ethical and effective processes and outcomes.

 

c. The Global Focus Aotearoa will provide a number of Take Action opportunities. These opportunities will be presented as options, rather than the Global Focus Aotearoa advocating for a specific action.

 

d. Image and reputation: the Global Focus Aotearoa will not promote action that is likely to compromise and/or damage the organisation’s reputation and credibility.

 

e. Organisational risk: the Global Focus Aotearoa will not promote action that is likely to threaten the existence of the organisation or put people at risk of harm.

 

f. Global Focus Aotearoa promotes action that has a global focus. However in cases where there is a clear link between a local focus and a wider global or development issue, local Take Action opportunities will be promoted.

 

Disclaimer

• Take option opportunities do not necessarily reflect the view of the organisation.
• To the best of our knowledge, the Take Action options meet the Guiding Standards of our Take Action Policy.