1. Introduction
2. Scope and Definition
3. Mandate
4. Strategic Context
5. Dev-Zone clients
6. Collections principles
7. Physical library
   1. General Lending Collection
   2. Reference Collection
   3. Serials Collection
   4. Audio-visual Collection
8. Online Knowledge Centre
   1. Aotearoa section
   2. Pacific Focus section
   3. Take Action section
   4. Home page
9. EPIC (Electronic Purchasing in Collaboration)
10. Development Work Database
11. Pacific Development Glossary and Acronym Guide
12. Related policies
13. Appendix I: Dev-Zone’s list of Pacific countries

Dev-Zone Collection Policy

 

1. Introduction

Dev-Zone, a programme of the Development Resource Centre (DRC) 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 Dev-Zone collections are transparent, accountable and publicly available.

 

2. Scope and definition

This policy covers the Dev-Zone physical library and Dev-Zone’s online knowledge centre.

 

The core of Dev-Zone’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 Development Resource Centre.

 

Dev-Zone’s Knowledge Centre 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 Development Resource Centre’s key outcome 3 identified in its Strategic Plan 1 July 2003 – 30 June 2006.

 

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.

 

Dev-Zone’s physical library and online knowledge centre are a key strategy to achieve these objectives.

 

4. Strategic Context

Dev-Zone is a programme of the Development Resource Centre (DRC), an Aotearoa New Zealand not-for-profit. non-governmental organisation governed by an independent charitable trust. The DRC is core funded by NZAID Nga Hoe Tuputupu-mai-taiwhiti (The New Zealand Agency for International Development).

 

The DRC’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 DRC 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 DRC 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. Dev-Zone 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 DRC 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 Dev-Zone’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. A comprehensive coverage of development requires us to cover the following topics:

• agriculture
• aid
• cultural survival
• disaster relief and management
• economy
• education
• environmental issues
• gender
• globalisation
• governance
• health
• human rights
• indigenous rights
• land use
• migration and refuge
• NGOs/civil society
• peace, conflict and security
• poverty
• privatisation
• trade
• water and food security

In addition we provide region and country specific information.

 

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

Dev-Zone will retain in depth information on organisations and campaigns in which it has a strategic involvement or partnership. These include:

• Pacific Island Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO)
• Family Planning International Development New Zealand (FPAID)
• Asia Pacific Alliance and the International Conference on Population and Development
• Jubilee Aotearoa and Debt relief
• Global Campaign Against Poverty – Make Poverty History
• Council for International Development
• Save the Children
• Tearaway Youth Magazine
• YWCA Aotearoa NZ
• Connected Media Trust
• Amnesty International

Currency

The primary aim of Dev-Zone’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 Dev-Zone 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 Dev-Zone 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

Dev-Zone reserves final say on inclusion and exclusion of all material in its physical library and online knowledge centre. Dev-Zone is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of information provided in its online or physical collections.

 

7. Physical library

 

The Dev-Zone 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 DRC 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 Bulletin
• Development in Practice
• Gender and Development
• Global outlook
• 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 Knowledge Centre

 

The aim of the online knowledge centre 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 knowledge centre will include:

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

The knowledge centre allows users to suggest sites they consider useful for the knowledge centre. These will be accepted if they fall within the collection policy. Our users contributions are an important source of links for the knowledge centre 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 Dev-Zone’s focus on the Pacific
• reflect Dev-Zone’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 Dev-Zone’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

8.4. Homepage

Each week the home page will highlight key features in the Knowledge Centre.

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. EPIC

Dev-Zone is a member of EPIC (Electronic Publications in Collaboration): a New Zealand wide consortium of libraries that has collectively purchased access to electronic databases through electronic publishers Gale and EBSCO.

 

As well as a broad range of New Zealand and overseas general titles, EPIC also gives Dev-Zone clients and staff full-text searchable access to several specialist journals in the development and global issues area.

 

EPIC complements Dev-Zone’s existing physical and online collections and allows library staff to provide more in-depth and comprehensive answers to reference and subject enquiries.

 

10. Development Work Database

The aim of the Dev-Zone 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.

 

Listings must be development-related and/or be linked to the aid and development sector to be accepted.

 

Listings must include the following information to be accepted:

• Job Title
• Job Type (Job, Contract, Volunteer/Internship)
• Organisation
• Location
• Application Instructions
• Contact name of person submitting vacancy
• Contact Email of person submitting vacancy

Listings are removed once the expiry date has passed, or if no expiry date is given, after approximately 3 months.

 

Listings that are identified as being false or fraudulent are removed immediately, replaced with a warning notice, and our clients notified by email.

 

All listings on our database are also sent out in our Dev-Zone Development Employment email update.

 

Those applying for a position on the Dev-Zone jobs database should make their application to the organisation advertising the position NOT to Dev-Zone.

 

Dev-Zone has the right to reject or remove any listings at its own discretion.

 

11. 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

12. Related policies

Donations

Donations are an important source for the building of collections in a variety of subject areas. Dev-Zone 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 Dev-Zone on the understanding that Dev-Zone will, in the first instance, offer them back to the donor when they are no longer needed or if Dev-Zone 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 Dev-Zone 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 Dev-Zone and we will attempt to remedy the problem as soon as possible.

 

13. Appendix 1

 

Dev-Zone’s list of Pacific Island countries

Dev-Zone 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