Chris Szekely

Chris Szekely is Chief Librarian of the Alexander Turnbull Library, a part of the National Library of New Zealand.  From 1999 to 2007, he was Manukau City Librarian in South Auckland; one of New Zealand’s fastest growing urban areas, serving the country’s largest populations of Maori and Pacific Islanders.  He was a founding member of Te Ropu Whakahau, an association for Maori working in libraries and information management, and instrumental in establishing the International Indigenous Librarians‘ Forum.  He was appointed as an inaugural Commissioner on the Library and Information Advisory Commission in 2003, and in 2006 became a Fellow of LIANZA.

He brings a deep understanding of libraries and their work to his role, especially the place the Turnbull holds in the ecosystem of New Zealand's intellectual life. The Kaitiaki/Guardians look forward to working with Chris to protect, preserve and develop the Turnbull Library's uniquely rich resources and future opportunities."

Brian Pauling, the chair of the Library and Information Advisory Commission (LIAC), says: " Chris was a much valued foundation commissioner of LIAC. The wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm, commitment and vision that he brought to the LIAC table will now benefit the Turnbull Library."

Chris Szekely has also contributed a number of articles and papers on services to maori in NZ Libraries, research papers on Maori and libraries.