Place within DIA

The National Library of New Zealand is a part of the Knowledge, Information, Research and Technology branch of the Department of Internal Affairs. It sits alongside Archives New Zealand, Government Information Services, Government Technology Services, ICT Supply and Procurement, and the Government Chief Information Officer.

The parts of the Library work to collect, preserve and protect the documentary heritage of New Zealand and overseas, aid in the work of other libraries, and collaborate with other institutions that form the international library community.

Alexander Turnbull Library

The Alexander Turnbull team develops and maintains a comprehensive collection of documents relating to New Zealand and its people. The Alexander Turnbull Library holds both published and unpublished collections.

Published collections of the Turnbull Library include books, magazines and journals, pamphlets, newspapers, maps, music, websites, and other items that are published.

The Turnbull Library's unpublished collections include original manuscripts, oral histories, photographs, paintings, drawings, prints, and cartoons, organised by format.

Staff in the Alexander Turnbull Library:

  • build and manage comprehensive collections across all formats
  • arrange and describe items in the unpublished collections
  • provide access and research advice for the Turnbull Library collections
  • produce the annual research publication, the Turnbull Library record.

Content Services

Content Services is responsible for the acquisition, description and processing of items for the National Library, Alexander Turnbull Library and Schools collections, and for content delivery services from the National Library's collections. Content Services is also responsible for:

  • administration of New Zealand's Legal Deposit scheme, which requires two copies of every item published in New Zealand to be deposited with the National Library
  • administration of the Public Lending Right to New Zealand Authors Scheme, which compensates authors for items held in New Zealand libraries
  • administration of the New Zealand agencies for standard numbers for books and serials
  • managing and preserving digital content to ensure access is possible over time
  • providing services to support the work of New Zealand libraries and related sectors
  • contributing to the international authority control programmes NACO and SACO
  • contributing to the development of Maori Subject Headings.

Literacy, Learning and Public Programmes

Public Programmes

This team has been established to support the Library in creating new ways for all New Zealanders to access and interact with the Library's collections and services, creating a distinctive, innovative and important cultural heritage place and space, accessible to all - onsite, online, and on the road.

We do this through a national programme of public relations activities, events, exhibitions, displays, promotions, books launches and includes responsibility for the New Zealand Poet Laureate programmes.

Services to Schools

Services to Schools supports literacy and learning in all schools, supporting educators to develop young New Zealanders who are engaged and motivated readers, with the skills and literacy to be confident and creative users of information and who are connected to their culture and heritage.

We do this by offering a range of services to educators. Curriculum Services have a collection of over 600,000 resources to support literacy and learning.

We also focus on designing and developing new programmes and services, exploring new ways of connecting with educators and responding to new trends and directions in literacy and learning.

Digital New Zealand

Digital New Zealand develops services that provide digital access to New Zealand's heritage, and presents the Library’s web face. Digital New Zealand works to:

  • enable the discovery, access, creation and reuse of digital content and knowledge
  • increase the amount of New Zealand digital content available for use
  • develop new online services and service delivery tools
  • provide information and interfaces for National Library services on the web.