EPIC Governance Group

The EPIC Governance Group (EGG) guides the development of EPIC.

The Terms of Reference for the EPIC Governance Group (Word doc) provides in-depth information on the roles and responsibilities of EGG, the governance structure of EPIC and the nomination procedure for the EPIC Governance Group (EGG). The 2007(Word doc.),2006 (PDF) and 2005(PDF) versions are available.

As of August 2007 the following people represent your library sector in guiding EPIC:

Large and Very Large Public Libraries - Linda Geddes
Medium, Small, & Very Small Public Libraries - Pene Walsh
National Library of New Zealand - Jenny McDonald
Polytechnics, PTEs and other education organisations - Marion Read
School Services (National Library of New Zealand) - Geraldine Howell
Schools - Senga Watson
Special Libraries - Kat Turner
Special Libraries - Janet Upton
Universities - Heather Jenks
Wananga - Mereana Coleman

  • Large and Very Large Public Libraries (2 year term ending August 2009)
    Linda Geddes - Dunedin Public Libraries


    Linda is Head of Collection Services at Dunedin Public Libraries. She is responsible for collection development, acquisitions, cataloguing, processing, the Bindery and Preservation Services Unit and Information Technologies throughout the library network. Linda has worked in the public libraries' sector for many years and maintains a broad overview of current directions through her daily work, her attendance at the National Digital Forum, a variety of library related conferences and membership of the FindNZArticles Governance Group.

    Linda has an understanding of the e-resource needs of library customers having been involved in evaluation and selection of e-resources as well as using a wide range of them as an AnyQuestions.co.nz operator. Linda looks forward to contributing her skills to the EGG Governance Group with a view to continuing and extending the very high standards which have been achieved to date.
  • Medium, Small, & Very Small Public Libraries (2 year term ending August 2008)
    Pene Walsh -HB Williams Memorial Library - Gisborne


    After a variety of roles at Auckland Public Libraries, Pene returned to hometown Gisborne to take up role of District Librarian at HB Williams Memorial Library at the same time as the advent of computers in libraries and cyclone Bola. Her main area of interest is equal access to information and leisure for all New Zealanders, especially those living in the unique urban/rural geographically isolated Gisborne district, where broadband is still a dream for many people. She believes the concept of EPIC is the single most important device to create information equal for all our people (bar the hardware).  She is currently undertaking Diploma in Management (advanced) with NZIM.

  • National Library of New Zealand
    Jenny McDonald


    Jenny has worked in a number of roles, including Information Services Manager at LINZ, before coming to National Library of New Zealand as Manager - Te Puna Support in 1999. She has been heavily involved in the development of EPIC from the initial research into whether New Zealand libraries were interested in a national consortium to purchase electronic resources. She is passionate about the importance of access to fulltext electronic resources for New Zealanders and is eager for EPIC to continue to live up to its name into the future.

  • Polytechnics, Private Training Establishments and other non-university tertiary education organisations. (2 year term ending August 2009)
    Marion Read - Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Library


    Marion has been Library Manager at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Library since 2002. During that time she has drawn on a wide range of previous experience in the public and government library sectors as well as a stint in the Library System Vendor market, gaining strong skills and knowledge in systems and library management. Marion has presented papers at both national and international conferences. In 1993 she was successful in gaining the GT Alley Award to study business models in public Libraries in USA.

    Marion has previously been the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Regional Councillor on LIANZA National Council, worked with National Library on the Public Library Advisory Committee and is currently the Convenor of the ITPNZ (Polytechnic and institutes of Technology) Libraries Forum. Marion believes that EPIC is essential to enable equality of information access for all New Zealanders and that affordable consortial purchasing models are critical to ensure all libraries play their role in the long term sustainability of EPIC.

  • School Services (National Library of New Zealand) (Re-appointed 2006. 2 year term ending August 2008)
    Geraldine Howell


    Geraldine is Director School Services, and is part of the National Library's strategic leadership team, with pan library responsibility for people and culture. Geraldine gained her library qualification at Victoria University and has focussed her career in the area of library services to education. Following a period at the Auckland College of Education Geraldine moved to the National Library's Auckland office as Manager Curriculum Information Services. Geraldine has held a number of positions within the National Library, both in School Services and in the area of collection management and delivery of services related to the General Lending Collections. Geraldine believes libraries have a huge role to play in supporting the educational and social development of young New Zealanders and has lead the development of the EPIC agreement for schools with the Ministry of Education to purchase access for all New Zealand schools for the three years.
  • Schools (2 year term ending August 2009)
    Senga Watson - James Hargest College


    Senga is the Library Manager at James Hargest College in Invercargill. Her school is a two campus Y7-13 school with a combined roll of approx 1850. Senga is enjoying her term on the SLANZA Executive and is excited about being involved with EGG. She has a real interest in information literacy and is in the process of writing modules to teach these skills from Y7-10. She is also about to embark on an Information Literacy Project involving 7 schools in Otago and Southland. This is a joint initiative between National
    Library, University of Otago Education Dept and Ministry of Education. This contract is scheduled to run for 18 months and will be focussed at Y8 level.
  • Special Libraries (2 year term ending August 2009)
    Kat Turner - New Zealand Nurses Organisation


    In 2006 Kat was appointed to complete Moira Fraser’s term. Kat was elected to the EGG again in August 2007 as a Special Libraries representative and looks forward to contributing further to some exciting initiatives which have commenced during her previous tenure. In particular, Kat has been heavily involved in the EPIC / LIANZA Training Initiative (ELTI) and is a member of the Steering Committee, reflecting her interest and background in information literacy education.

    Kat was Manager of Library and Information Services at the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) from 2004 until 2006, when she took on a secondment as NZICA Business Development Manager, focusing on e-learning for Professional Development. Prior to this, Kat taught a number of courses (including Information Technology and Reference Services) on the Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) programme at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW). Kat has recently moved into the health sector; she is now the Librarian / Records Manager at New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO).

  • Special Libraries (2 year term ending August 2008)
    Janet Upton - The Treasury


    Janet is Manager Information Services at The New Zealand Treasury. She qualified as a Librarian in 1984 and has spent her entire career working in Special Libraries. Her professional qualifications include a B.A. (Otago), Dip.LIBR (VUW) and Dip.Bus.Admin (Massey). She is a member of GIG (Government Information Group), SLIS, LIANZA, SLA (Special Libraries Association) and the Te Puna Strategic Advisory Group.  She has a strong interest in knowledge management and professional development.  She believes that access to timely, pertinent information plays a key role in the development of high-quality research and advice for clients.
  • Universities (2 year term (re-elected)- ending August 2008)
    Heather Jenks - Auckland University of Technology


    Heather gained her initial library qualification at RMIT and has worked in the library world for the last 21 years. Her fascination with libraries began when she worked at the University of Otago Library as a shelver during her undergraduate years. She started her professional career in Melbourne working in a variety of special libraries. Upon her return to New Zealand she began working within the tertiary sector and completed a Master of Applied Science (Library and Information Management) as a distance student at Charles Sturt University. She is currently in the Associate University Librarian (Information Resources) at the Auckland University of Technology Library. This role combines bibliographic and information services and allows her to continue to work in an area that she is passionate about - electronic resources.
  • Wananga ( 2 year term ending August 2008)
    Mereana Coleman - Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi

    Mereana Coleman replaces Greg Marshall as the Wānanga representative. She is Library Manager at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, Whakatane. Mereana began working in libraries in 1990, employed in various libraries, including the National Library, Wellington, Alexander Turnbull Library, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Eru Pomare Maori Health Research Centre and Te Puni Kokiri Library. Mereana has the Diploma in Library & Information Studies, and is currently studying towards a Bachelor degree, Library & Information Management. She has written a new chapter titled Wānanga Libraries, in the latest edition of Informing New Zealand: Libraries, Archives and Records. Mereana believes that EPIC is an effective information resource for the research, educational and teaching needs of Wānanga but increased Māori content will encourage EPIC usage by Māori students.