Collection attributes and principles

• Is guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and recognises Māori as Tangata Whenua of Aotearoa New Zealand
• Is cared for by Te Kahu Tauira, Student and Scholarly Services, which acts as a trusted kaitiaki of the taonga and resources it holds
• Responds to the evolving learning, teaching and research needs of the University
• Maintains a sustainable onsite print collection while developing, preserving and providing access to significant collections of rare books, archives, media and artworks
• Provides a research collection that supports scholarship across the University's diverse disciplines

The collection principles are the guiding principles we apply in managing and developing the Library’s scholarly and cultural collections.

Te Kahu Tauira, Student and Scholarly Services, will:

• Ensure Kaupapa Māori and Mātauranga Māori values, principles and practices guide the management and use of Māori content. In partnership with Māori we practise kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga
• Reflect the unique place of the University and of Aotearoa New Zealand in the Pacific within our collections
• Develop and maintain collections that meet the learning, teaching and research needs of the University
• Regularly assess the relevance and suitability of collections to meet the diverse needs of students, teachers and researchers
• Manage integrated scholarly collections across all sites and formats by:
  • Applying just-in-time acquisition processes wherever possible
  • Prioritising electronic formats that improve access regardless of time or location, while acknowledging differences in disciplinary publishing practices
  • Supporting an inclusive learning environment by providing and advocating for collections that meet the diverse needs of learners, teachers and researchers
  • Avoiding duplication of resources whenever possible
  • Moving low-use materials to the On-Demand Collection 
  • Using collection usage and return-on-investment data to inform subscription decisions
  • Supplementing collections through interlibrary loan and document delivery services for academic purposes
• Within He Māra Mahara, Cultural Collections, acquire, preserve and provide access to materials significant to the culture and heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific that support the learning, teaching and research needs of the University and our communities by:
  • Applying robust acquisition and donation guidelines to protect the uniqueness and significance of cultural collections
  • Using internationally recognised standards to preserve collections for future generations
  • Digitising unique cultural collections in consultation and partnership with content owners
  • Supporting and prioritising open access where possible